Disney+ is rolling out a new short video discovery feed called Verts that lets users scroll through clips from movies and shows directly inside the mobile app.
Quick Summary – TLDR:
- Disney+ has launched Verts, a vertical scrolling video feed inside its mobile app in the United States.
- The feature shows short clips and scenes from movies and shows to help users discover what to watch next.
- Users can add titles to their watchlist or start watching instantly while scrolling.
- The feature uses an algorithm based recommendation system similar to social video platforms.
What Happened?
Disney+ has started rolling out a new feature called Verts, a vertical video feed designed to help users discover movies and TV shows faster. The feature appears inside the Disney+ mobile app in the United States and allows users to scroll through short clips taken from its catalog.
By presenting quick video highlights and memorable scenes, Disney hopes the feature will encourage users to explore its library and jump directly into full episodes or films.
A TikTok-style vertical video feed with movie/TV show clips is being added to Disney+ this week. pic.twitter.com/uW8k1ZjxyK
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) March 12, 2026
Disney Brings Short Video Discovery to Its Streaming App
The new Verts feed introduces a familiar scrolling experience that many mobile users already know from social media platforms. Instead of browsing long lists of titles, viewers can now swipe through short vertical clips taken from Disney+ content.
These clips may include iconic scenes, episode highlights, or previews that spark curiosity about the full show or movie. As users scroll through the feed, they will see options that allow them to quickly take action.
Users can:
- Add a title to their watchlist.
- Start watching the full movie or episode immediately.
The feature appears through a dedicated icon in the mobile app navigation bar, making it easy to access from the main interface.
Disney described the purpose of the feature in a blog post, saying:
Powered by Personalized Recommendations
Behind the Verts experience is an algorithm-driven recommendation engine designed to personalize the clips shown to each viewer.
Disney says the system analyzes watch history and viewing preferences to decide which clips should appear in a user’s feed. This means the content displayed should feel highly relevant to each viewer.
For example:
- Fans who watch blockbuster films may see clips from Star Wars or Marvel titles.
- Viewers who enjoy documentaries or special events may get clips from content such as concert films or reality programming.
The company believes this personalization can make discovering new content feel faster and more engaging.
Early testing of the feature across Disney platforms reportedly showed higher engagement from users, which helped convince the company to expand the rollout.
Streaming Platforms Are Adopting Social Style Discovery
The launch of Verts highlights a growing shift in the streaming industry. Platforms are increasingly experimenting with short form video discovery tools to compete not only with other streaming services but also with social media apps that dominate mobile attention.
Services like TikTok and Instagram Reels have shown how powerful short videos and endless scrolling feeds can be for keeping users engaged.
Streaming companies are now adopting similar ideas. Netflix has also tested a vertical video feed that allows users to scroll through clips from its original shows and movies.
The strategy is simple. If a short clip captures a viewer’s interest, it can lead them directly to watch the full program.
Disney Plans to Expand the Feature
For now, Verts focuses mainly on clips and highlights from existing Disney+ titles. However, Disney has already hinted that the feature could grow into something much bigger.
The company says future versions could include:
- Content from creators connected to Disney fandoms.
- New storytelling formats and content types.
- More personalized discovery experiences.
Disney is also exploring ways to expand the feature beyond basic content discovery.
SQ Magazine Takeaway
I think this move shows how streaming platforms are starting to behave more like social media apps. Instead of waiting for users to sit down and browse a catalog, companies now want viewers to open the app daily and scroll through content quickly.
Verts could turn Disney+ from something people open occasionally into an app people check every day. If the algorithm works well and the clips are interesting, it could become a powerful way to guide viewers into Disney’s massive catalog that spans more than a century of storytelling.
For Disney, this may be less about short videos and more about winning the battle for attention on mobile screens.
