Netflix Adds ‘Dialogue-Only Captions’ Option for Even more accessible Binge-Watching

My friend Emma Roth at The Verge reported last week that Netflix introduced a new subtitles captions option specifically designed to only display spoken dialogue. The Bay Area-based company describes the feature as a “new way to experience subtitles.”

Roth notes the dialogue-only captions are available exclusively in English for Netflix originals for now, but noted a Netflix spokesperson confirmed to The Verge the company is “actively exploring ways to expand this option to existing titles over time.”

According to Netflix, 50% of Americans watch content with captions or subtitles “most of the time”; in fact, the company said “it’s a habit we see reflected on Netflix too,” as it said “nearly half” of all viewing hours in the United States happen with either captions or subtitles. That data, Netflix said, was the driving force behind what it called “making the experience even better for members.” Netflix says its new dialogue-only caption feature is debuting with the release of the fifth and final season of the thriller series You.

David Pogue wrote about the ever-growing use of captions for CBS News last year.

The dialogue-only mode should, in theory, make watching stuff on Netflix more accessible to those who are hearing and thus don’t need the bracketed metadata with descriptions of ambient sounds. Likewise, focusing on only dialogue can make action easier to follow for those with visual and/or intellectual conditions because the option lacks the aforementioned extraneous detail that adds complexity and cognitive clutter.

The advent of Netflix’s dialogue-only captions comes soon after the company announced a “more multilingual” experience with expanded localization. And yes, once more with feeling, I must point out that captions and subtitles are not one and the same.