By: Nick Gambino
Typically when you try to screen capture or screen record something from one of the biggest streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Peacock, etc. you just wind up with a black screen.
These corporations don’t like unauthorized distribution of any of their properties. And that’s all well and good, but if someone is simply trying to grab a short clip of a movie or show to share with someone else this is free advertising. There should be some allowance for this. And now there is.
Netflix has announced a new feature they call Moments. This allows you to capture a clip from whatever movie or show you’re watching on Netflix. You can save it so you can view it later or you can share it on Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp or other platforms.
What’s smart about this is that it allows for the free word-of-mouth advertising movies and shows benefit from while still curtailing the unauthorized use of these clips. In other words, you can’t capture it and then upload it into a YouTube video.
Now to be clear, when you share the clip with someone all they see is the Netflix Moments link. They won’t see the clip playing on Instagram or Facebook. But if they click on the link, they’ll be taken to Netflix where they can then view the clip. So it still works the same for all intents and purposes.
Something tells me they’ll come around on letting people share the clips so they can be played directly on the platform on which it’s shared. Little clips showing on your X, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok feed can sell you on a movie or show better than almost any other type of marketing. I know it works for me. Seeing a simple clip has gotten me to watch movies or shows I’ve either seen before or that I’ve yet to see.
Unfortunately, the feature only applies to Netflix titles. Hopefully they expand to include other movies and shows on the platform. But this is a start.
The Moments feature is rolling out to all iOS users now. It’s coming to Android in the next few weeks.
