Is binge-watching a good thing or a bad thing?

We’ve all heard of binge eating and binge drinking but more recently the new addiction is binge-watching. Since Netflix’s breakthrough in 2013 with the debut of its original House of Cards series, many other streaming platforms such as Disney Plus and Amazon Prime Video have made it possible for binge-watching to become mainstream. Only some years ago, people would have to wait weekly for the next episode of a tv show, but now in this fast-paced world, all the episodes of your new favourite tv show are at your fingertips. Whether this is beneficial or damaging is the question?

Of course, the idea of having a day filled with any tv show, whether you are re-watching or binging is comforting and offers the perfect reward after a long week. Having all the seasons of a show available allows every watcher to consume as much or as little media as they want. Binge culture also contributes to the media industry and allows it to continue to repay viewers with more shows, so is a self-sufficient cycle.

In February of 2020, Netflix added a new feature to their platform in which they ranked the most popular shows and movies nationally, per day. This feature would urge watchers to consistently keep up with what is popular which would reinforce binge-watching. People may also binge-watch to keep up with friends and family around them to stay connected. Both behaviours mean that people can stay involved and have passionate debates about their favourite tv shows.

During the lockdown, the BBC reported that Netflix received over 16 million new sign-ups so the pandemic has allowed for binge-watching to have its biggest surge yet with Netflix surpassing its 200 million subscriber mark. Many people including parents and healthcare workers may not have the time to keep up with weekly shows and so fall behind, however, streaming services have provided them with the perfect opportunity to catch up with entertainment. One more crucial benefit of binge-watching is that it allows for a fuller watching experience. Many tv shows such as Stranger Things have complicated and detailed plotlines that require extra attention. Having all the episodes of a season available allow for a more immersive, enjoyable experience.

On the other hand, excessive binge culture can be harmful to your health and even take away the magic of TV. Although binge-watching is becoming more spoken about and becoming a familiar word, it is, after all, an addiction. All episodes of a tv show being available all at once may mean that someone who is having mental health struggles can neglect daily activities and responsibilities, and streaming services make it very easy to do so. Time lost watching TV shows may foster feelings of guilt and failure, creating a vicious cycle of low mood. Research conducted by Wheeler (2015) and Ahmed (2017) showed that there is a positive relationship between the higher frequency of binge-watching behaviours and depression and a sense of loneliness which proves how detrimental binge-watching can be.

While the thought of having access to all episodes and having the freedom to watch them at whatever pace is enjoyable, it does take away the novelty of the show. A study from the University of Melbourne explored viewers’ relationship with a show they binge-watched and one that was traditionally viewed weekly. They found that people who binge-watched enjoyed the program progressively less than those who watched on a daily or weekly basis. They also found that the people who binge-watched the show had reduced memory of the show compared to the others. This may also suggest that the appreciation and value of tv shows will fade over time as they are forgotten. There is no waiting for a new episode when binge-watching, which could mean that the excitement is taken away. The feeling of anticipation could be paralleled to the ‘Christmas morning’ feeling but this feeling cannot exist in binge culture. The Independent reported that Britons spend more than 100 days of their lives deciding on what to watch just because of the sheer variety of choice, exemplifying that TV isn’t valued in the same way that it used to be.

In my opinion, I feel that a show would be better enjoyed if not binge-watched as it allows for the viewer to savour and better appreciate the show. While saying this, I don’t completely disapprove of binge-watching TV. From time to time, I find a show that I can’t help but watch episode after episode, most recently this was season two of the very popular Bridgerton. While I watched it more quickly than other shows, I still watched it over a few days so I could savour the season rather than finishing it in a day or two. This series had me particularly hooked because of its South Asian representation and focus on minute details. This allowed the series to showcase how intentional media can be in terms of underrepresented cultures. While I loved the show and thoroughly enjoyed the watching experience, the memory of the show is now hazy due to the pace at which I watched it. This could’ve been avoided had I watched it over a week rather than over three to four days.

Clearly, there are both pros and cons to binge-watching but to what extent does the positive outweigh the negative? Without proper change, which is unlikely, this problem will spiral further into an even bigger, insurmountable issue. This will exaggerate mental health problems and add more to the world of addiction- can we afford this?