Before moving out of my parents’ home, my Netflix and TV watching were regulated by my parents. Even in high school, I was only able to catch moments of my favorite characters beneath the covers as my parents slept, at volume with one bar. I watched the whole Grey’s Anatomy show, all 11 seasons at the time, which took me a couple of years. And then, I went to college and rewatched the whole show in a matter of weeks. Over and over again. Without the regulations of my parents, and perhaps because it was once a scarcity in my household, I was eternally addicted. I any new show on Netflix I could watch instantly, and I did. But as we all know, moderation is key. What started as an innocent excitement about my newfound freedom soon became a habit I couldn’t quite break. As my screen time increases, I am left pondering my Netflix habits.
Binging Netflix seems like a fun pastime, and is even normalized in our society as a relaxing Saturday, but is it actually to our detriment? Is it becoming an addiction?
An article from the Washington Post, “How binge-watching is hazardous to your health” published three years ago, states that binge-watching is becoming worrisome to health experts.
As most of the conscious consumers of Netflix know, watching increased amounts of tv late at night can increase insomnia, and fatigue and lead to poor sleep quality (Birch 1). It leads to long sedentary periods where people forget about their other needs, leading to eating more unhealthily and in larger quantities due to lack of attention and more (Birch 1).
But more interestingly, what drives people to binge-watch Netflix and Hulu, and HBO in the first place? According to Jenny Coppola: Binge-watching can be “an escape from the day-to-day grind,” Grant McCracken, a surveyor, noted that watching Netflix has become a refuge from the outside world. Even further, clinical psychologist Dr. Renee Carr remarks that watching endless television gives people dopamine. Watching TV isn’t actually what people want, or why people tend, it is the surge of pleasure that is associated with watching episode after episode.
Thus, if you find yourself watching episode after episode, and with less enjoyment with the following plots and characters, try to see if you are actually enjoying your tv show or just looking to relax. And if relaxation and enjoyment is the goal, try a different activity like yoga or exercise and see if you like it. It may just save your sleep.