In American society today,
binge-watching has become increasingly common among teenagers and young adults,
who find both entertainment and relaxation in the mere activity of plopping on
the couch for an all-night marathon of their favorite TV show. Whether it be
Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Instant Video, or any other available video streaming
option, these applications have captured the attention of and, in most cases,
acquired financial investments from an abundance of eager audiences. Over the
past several years, this collective infatuation with enveloping one’s mind in
an alternate reality for hours on end has been perceived as a harmless and even
ideal activity. However, new discoveries in research have suggested that this
social epidemic characterized by excessive time spent in front of the
television screen can be progressively detrimental to viewers’ physical and
emotional well-being (“Feelings of Loneliness, Depression, Linked to Binge-watching
Television”).
According to researchers, binge-watching is classified as viewing between two to six
episodes of the same TV show in one sitting (Firger). It has become somewhat of an
addiction for many committed viewers, for the nationwide access to movies and
popular television shows has transformed as a result of the creation of monthly
subscription-based video applications, Netflix currently being the most widely
referred to choice. When compared to the prior method of binge-viewing, which
consisted of driving to the nearest Blockbuster or Hollywood Video and
purchasing costly amounts of DVDs, most valued anywhere from $20-$40 per
season, the prospect of forfeiting a mere $7.99 per month to gain an unlimited
access to a collection of shows and movies excited many willing indulgers
(Jurgensen) (Wayne). Respectively, these video streaming products have
cultivated a society so readily obsessed with becoming entangled in fictional
stories and characters that its people have become dangerously prone to procrastination,
laziness, and sleep deprivation (Wayne). In addition to that, the availability
of entire seasons at a time can lead to unforeseen and unintended spoilers on
part of viewers who are farther along in the series than others, which can
spark frustration and a sense of feeling left out for those who are still two
full seasons behind everyone else (Page 1). Shows like “Breaking Bad”, “The
Vampire Diaries”, and “Game of Thrones” are some of the most highly binged
shows associated with this social epidemic, perhaps due to their intense,
engaging storylines and excess of seasons.
The growing network of binge-viewers
has continually encouraged and idealized all night TV marathons on social media
outlets such as Facebook, Snapchat, and Twitter, which has proven effective in
recruiting even more audiences that engage in the alluring activity. Though
this popular hobby may seem harmless and innocent, researchers have warned of
the potential negative consequences that can result from such an overly
excessive behavior. One study suggested that binge-watchers have a tendency to
experience depressive emotions and loneliness (Firger). In addition to that,
the people that were tested admitted to witnessing a lack of self-control in
that they found themselves pressing the next button, which would take them to
the following episode of a series, despite the fact that they had an awareness
of the more urgent obligations and priorities they needed to tend to (Page 1).
On a more serious note, health problems such as physical fatigue, obesity, and
sluggishness are also associated with binge-watching, which is the primary
reason why researchers are urging society to alter their view of this social
epidemic (“Feelings of Loneliness, Depression, Linked to Binge-watching Television”).
It is collectively feared that this apparent addiction will cause people to
neglect their work, personal relationships, and other responsibilities just so
they can satisfy their compelling desire to watch episodes continuously(Page
1).
To expand, binge
watching poses a sort of deteriorating health domino effect in that it leads to
conditions that are often the root causes of more serious health problems. For
example, being uncontrollably hypnotized
by an alternate reality can cause you to remain in one position for hours,
leading to a lack of blood flow to vital parts of the body, which decreases
oxygen to the muscles and slows down the digestive system. Unfortunately, once
the digestive system is continuously struggling to function properly, other problems
can emerge such as bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting, to name a
mere few. An additional example would be the existent dangers derived from
being obese. Obesity can lead to pulmonary disease, cancer, gall bladder
disease, phlebitis, coronary heart disease, and gynecologic abnormalities.
These examples signify the importance of understanding the actuality of binge
watching’s threat to humanity.
Diving deep in the psychological aspect of things, binge
watching can actually alter a person’s perception of reality and the people in
it. For example, on October 2, 2014, a teenage boy named Steven Miles who was
obsessed with the television series “Dexter” stabbed his 17-year-old girlfriend,
Elizabeth Thomas, to death and dismembered her in his bedroom(Duell). He then
proceeded to wrap each individual limb in cling film, just as Dexter did in the
fictional show(Page 1). Later he admitted that his personality was almost
identical to that of Dexter’s, and he had experienced urges to kill for a majority
of his lifetime(Page 1). This example brutally proves that binge watching is
not only detrimental to your body and mind, but it can actually be
life-threatening!
In my personal experience, I’ve
certainly witnessed the consequences mentioned above as a result of my
obsession with Netflix. Once I get hooked on a series, sleep deprivation and
procrastination are nearly inescapable, and the accompanying feelings of
loneliness and depression are usually derived from watching a program with a
healthy amount of mushy romance. You start to realize whatever it is you’re
lacking in life, and that you want it more than anything. What you don’t
realize is how unrealistic most of what you’re watching actually is. In
addition to that, I can most definitely relate to the scenario of having a long
list of priorities and specific deadlines at the forefront of my mind, but
somehow being unable to resist the urge to keep pressing next until all of a
sudden, it’s two in the morning and I’ve done absolutely nothing productive
with my time. Reflectively, I believe that these instances support the
intention behind why society is being advised to revaluate how we perceive the
captivating world of binge-watching.
Fortunately, there are solutions that can afford
binge watchers the opportunity to still do something they enjoy without
suffering the detrimental effects commonly associated with the alluring
activity. However, these solutions exist to accommodate binge watchers on a
much more moderate level that will maintain and encourage an acceptable
standard of productivity on a daily basis.
Secondarily, if you are more likely to binge watching
during the day, you can help curb your binging appetite by preoccupying
yourself with other things to do. For example, you can keep yourself busy by
joining clubs, working out at the gym, spending time with friends and family,
and doing volunteer work, basically filling your schedule to the point where
binge watching isn’t even an option for you anymore. Now, this helpful method
only works for those who are committed to staying physically and mentally
active and who are willing to get involved in activities outside of their
houses. For those with free schedules, it can be easily tempting to reside on
the couch all day long and stream one episode after another. This can be
dangerous if it becomes a daily routine, as binge watching can negatively
impact your health when done over an extended period of time.
Finally, a third solution would be
to reward yourself with additional episodes only after completing something
productive in between each one. Whether it be writing an essay for class,
practicing your instrument, going to a Zumba class, cooking a meal, playing
with your pet, or going out with a friend, these are all examples of actions
that will better your personal well being and improve the overall quality of
your life. This way, you can still watch a significant amount of episodes in
the timespan of a day, just sporadically instead of all at once. This ensures
that you are still fulfilling your urgent obligations and taking care of
yourself so that your life continues to feel worthwhile and purposeful. Personally,
I would use this solution as a means of getting homework completed and then
treating myself to an episode of my favorite show as a means to keep me going
without feeling completely miserable. It’s sort of like working out, you can
either motivate yourself by imagining your ideal body post workout or by
fantasizing about that piece of chocolate cake you are absolutely going to eat
later. Overall, this particular solution works for those who are concerned
enough with the success of their education or career, as well as their physical
and mental health because this method requires a strong sense of restraint.
People who utilize this technique must be able to press pause and actively
engage in completing whatever priority they have planned following the end of
one episode, before starting the next one. However, this does present flaws in
that people may tend to justify watching “just one more” episode, and before
they know it 6 hours have gone by and they didn’t follow their initial plan. Ultimately,
it’s safe to assume that this solution is for the binge watchers that reside on
the less excessive end of the spectrum.
With regards to Albert Camus, who
consistently questioned the meaning of life itself, he eventually concluded
that life is inherently purposeless and pointless. Life, he claimed, can be
“lived all the better if it has no meaning” (“Internet Encyclopedia of
Philosophy”). With that being said, Camus’ perspective can be applied to the
social epidemic of binge watching in that he would likely contend that binge
watching can be compared to the concept of religion. The majority of American
people hold some sort of supernatural belief, whether it be Christianity,
Islam, Judaism, or Buddhism, these all embody the notion that there is
something beyond our capacity to even comprehend, something ultimately greater
than us, out there. Even further so, these religions provide a basis for why we
are here and what we’re supposed to do on this earth. Camus’ perspective on
religion relates to binge watching since it can easily become a strong
addiction that transports your mind to another reality and takes you away from
the rationality of the real world(Page 1). In other words, you are becoming so
enveloped in the idea of an alternate world that you “remove the offending
world and replace it…with a more agreeable alternative”(Page 1). In addition,
Camus associates the idea of religion with “philosophical suicide”, labeling it
as ultimately fatal and self-destructive(Page 1). Therefore, Camus would most
likely view binge watching as a nearly identical situation with the same
personal repercussions as he claims religion to entail in the grand scheme of
things. In addition, since binge watching poses physical and mental health
issues that have been used as a basis for exposing the dangers of the activity,
Camus would likely assert that using collectively determined essentials of life
as a proven means to end binge watching is irrelevant and ineffective since
there is ultimately nothing worth fighting for in life, except for the mere
absolution of existing.
In conclusion, binge watching is a
progressively emergent popular activity that is generally perceived as innocent
and harmless. Unfortunately, studies have suggested otherwise in that it is
accompanied with harmful psychological and physical effects such as fatigue,
obesity, loneliness, depression, laziness, and procrastination, to name a few. One
of the primary reasons for this social epidemic is that it can be utilized as a
prolonged escape from the harsh reality of life, allowing its viewers to become
mentally entangled in a fictional plot and ignore the aggressors of their own
lives. Although this hobby has its flaws, it fortunately can be embraced in
moderation and used as a tool for connecting with others, finding solace in an
alternate dimension, and entertainment.
Bibliography
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Girlfriend to
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