Google search tool lets you do Tinder-style swiping to find the best movies

Swiping left and right on movies and TV shows will bring up personalised recommendations for what to watch

Anthony Cuthbertson
Friday 06 September 2019 08:10 EDT
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A new Google Search tool lets users swipe left and right to find the best movies and tv shows
A new Google Search tool lets users swipe left and right to find the best movies and tv shows (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

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Google has introduced a new Tinder-style tool that lets users search for TV shows and movies in the same way they would look for a potential dating match.

The search giant developed the new feature to make it easier for people to find what they want to watch when faced with a vast selection of content across multiple streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime.

"It's not always easy to choose from all the options out there," Matt Sheets, a product manager at Google Search, wrote in a blog post introducing the new tool.

"If you're like me, you have a few different streaming subscriptions, and you might find yourself spending more time browsing across multiple apps than actually watching a major movie or TV show. That's why we created an easy way for you to find recommendations on Google."

The new search feature is currently only available for US users, though if successful it will likely roll out to the UK and other markets in the coming months.

When users type things like "what to watch" or "good shows to watch" into Google's search engine, they will be able to tap on a button to be taken to the 'Top picks for you' section.

They will then be able to swipe left or right on a carousel of recommended movies and TV shows, depending on whether they like them or not.

The more they swipe, the better Google's algorithm gets at recommending content. Once a user decides on something they want to watch, Google will then show where it is available to watch online.

In order to personalise recommendations even further, users can select which streaming services they have subscriptions to, as well as whether they have cable TV or satellite subscriptions.

Google Search will let users swipe through a carousel of recommended movies and TV shows to find what they want to watch
Google Search will let users swipe through a carousel of recommended movies and TV shows to find what they want to watch (Google)

Google claims that any data gathered will only be used to further improve recommendations, rather than to improve targeted advertising.

In a separate post, Google also revealed the top TV shows people are currently searching for in the US, with Saturday Night Live coming out on top.

Entering its 45th season on 28 September 2019, the late-night TV show has seen a resurgence in recent years, in part thanks to satirical sketches aimed at US President Donald Trump.

Other shows that are receiving high search volumes include The Walking Dead, The Simpsons, and Grey's Anatomy.

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