User reviews on Netflix will soon become a thing of the past. According to a CNET report, Netflix will remove user reviews from its service this summer. The removal rollout will happen in stages: by July 30, you won't be able to write new reviews for shows and movies on the streaming service. By mid-August, you won't even be able to read existing user reviews.

According to a company email, user reviews saw "declining usage over time." Netflix is therefore canceling the written reviews, and the company said it has "notified members who have used the feature recently."

User reviews—both the ability to write them and to read them—have been limited to the desktop version of Netflix. Reviews for individual shows and movies didn't appear in any of Netflix's apps, but users could rate programs on the Netflix website and then add written comments.

This removal comes nearly one year after Netflix replaced its earlier five-star rating system in its apps with a simpler "thumbs up/thumbs down" system. The company claims that the new system is easier to use and that it also produces more accurate personal recommendations for shows and movies. It also may drive viewers to watch more content. According to a Variety report, Netflix saw a 200 percent increase in ratings by users with the "thumbs up/thumbs down" system during its testing.

This news comes as Netflix tests a new subscription tier—Ultra—in Europe. The plan would allow an account to stream Ultra HD content simultaneously to four devices and would be priced at €16.99, or just shy of $20.