Disney+ is officially rolling out “Verts,” its new short-form, vertical video feed, to mobile users across the United States. First teased in January, this feature introduces a TikTok-inspired scrolling experience designed to showcase curated scenes and highlights from the platform’s extensive library of movies and television series.
Boosting Engagement Through Modern Discovery
The implementation of Verts signals a strategic pivot to capture the “mobile-first” audience. By adopting a format popularized by TikTok and Instagram Reels, Disney aims to increase daily platform engagement and simplify content discovery. Users can access the feed via a dedicated icon in the app’s navigation bar, allowing them to swipe through clips, add titles to their watchlists, or jump immediately into full-length features.
In an official blog post, the company emphasized that Verts is designed to make exploring a century of storytelling faster and more intuitive, aligning the Disney+ experience with modern user habits.
Algorithm-Driven Personalization
Disney’s move follows successful testing conducted in August across both Disney+ and ESPN, which demonstrated a measurable uptick in user interaction. The company attributes this success to a sophisticated, proprietary recommendation engine. Much like the algorithm powering TikTok’s “For You” page, the Disney+ system is built to serve personalized content tailored to individual viewing preferences.
The Future of Verts
While the current launch focuses on clips from Disney’s existing library, the company plans to expand the feed’s scope significantly. Future updates will incorporate content from creators that align with specific fandoms, alongside new storytelling formats and personalized interactive experiences.
Competing for the Short-Form Audience
Disney+ is not the first major streamer to pivot toward vertical, snackable content. Netflix introduced a similar feature last year, allowing subscribers to scroll through clips from its original programming. Both giants are clearly targeting younger demographics who prioritize quick, mobile-friendly consumption. By hooking viewers with rapid, high-impact clips, the platforms hope to bridge the gap between short-form engagement and long-form viewership, converting casual scrollers into dedicated viewers of full-length movies and series.