Facing backlash over its release of the film Cuties last year, Netflix took steps to adjust its search algorithm, a new report has revealed.
The streamer in 2020 faced criticism over the French movie Cuties, which follows an 11-year-old girl who joins a dance crew. The film was accused of sexualizing young girls after Netflix released a poster showing its main characters posing provocatively, which critics said didn't accurately convey the film's intent as a commentary on such hypersexualization. Amid this controversy, The Verge reports Netflix "scrambled to minimize public backlash by suppressing the film in search results prior to its release." The streamer reportedly removed Cuties from the "coming soon," "more like this," "coming later," "extras," and "popular searches" categories, and it also reportedly excluded the film from searches of the word "cute." Additionally, The Verge reports Netflix adjusted searches for the movie to ensure "steamy / sexual titles" and kids' movies would not appear.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The Pentagon faces an uncertain future with TrumpTalking Point The president-elect has nominated conservative commentator Pete Hegseth to lead the Defense Department
-
This is what you should know about State Department travel advisories and warningsIn Depth Stay safe on your international adventures
-
'All Tyson-Paul promised was spectacle and, in the end, that's all we got'Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproarSpeed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain PrizeSpeed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 winsspeed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughterspeed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopicsSpeed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
