Netflix’s new study shows progress, but there’s still room for improvement.
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Netflix has long challenged the way we consume content, but in more recent years, it’s also been the force behind a long list of original films and series, playing a pivotal role in not only how we watch but indeed what we watch. From early winners, like “House of Cards” and “Orange Is The New Black” to recent favorites, including “Bridgerton” and “The Queen’s Gambit,” the streaming platform has always prided itself on telling stories that couldn’t be found anywhere else and on spotlighting underrepresented voices. But even with a reputation for inclusivity, Netflix wanted to see the hard numbers behind this progress, and in 2019, it turned to Dr. Stacy L. Smith, the founder and director of the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, to study its original US content from 2018 and 2019. On Friday, the comprehensive study was released, revealing where Netflix has had gains in diversity and where it still has work to do.
