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Binge 1

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31 views2 pages

Binge 1

Uploaded by

Monika Monika
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Binge-Watching Dulls Your Emotions

One of the big problems with binge-watching is that you don’t really get the chance to think about what
you've just seen. As soon as one episode is over, the next begins. Streaming services actively encourage
this behavior by automatically starting the next installment before the credits for the previous one have
ended. You can maintain a serious attachment to a character for several hours, but by separating yourself
from them for a time, you mull them over in your mind. You become more attached. That means that,
when someone dies or characters enter into a relationship, those developments mean something. You've
invested serious hours watching them but they've also expanded in your imagination. However, when
you move between episodes so quickly, the highs and lows don't hit quite so hard. You don't have time
to properly process what's happened. Events haven't fully bedded in yet. Anticipation is lost. Cliffhangers
become meaningless. TV wasn't constructed that way, but even films have cliffhangers. Look at
Avengers: Infinity War (2018) or Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One (2010) for proof. Giving
yourself some space away from a narrative can build its importance.

Binge-Watching Encourages Second-Screening

As cool as it is to notice all of the minor details that repeat between seasons, the major ones can get
irritating. Almost every TV show rehashes plot lines, overuses catchphrases, or has a character who has
an insufferably slow arc. You don’t notice these issues as much when you’re watching a show on a
weekly basis. But repetition is annoying. It means you inevitably turn to your smartphone. This habit can
bleed through to when you're watching television normally. Even when you’re watching a brand new
episode of your favorite show, second-screening is a real issue. Fed up of comedy catchphrases? You risk
spending more time on Reddit than actually watching the episode.

Binge-Watching Makes You Less Social

Binge-watching is an inherently anti-social activity. You can do it with someone else, but that involves
coordinating schedules and all sorts of other hassles. One person normally caves and watches an episode
without the other, and a domestic dispute occurs. It’s best to just go it alone. And if you get caught up in
a show, you might prioritize binge-watching over social gatherings. If you live alone, you can go days only
interacting with people on social media or talking to the takeaway delivery driver. Finally, you don’t get
to talk about each new episode with your friends throughout the week. When a weekly show airs, you
can dissect each episode with your peers. This makes the show more fun. All of this combines to make
binge-watching far less social than watching an episode in weekly installments as it's broadcast.

Binge-Watching Is Bad for Your Health

We all know that long periods of inactivity are bad for you. Whether that's sitting at your office desk for
the lion's share of a day or lounging in bed for longer than you should. Binge-watching contributes to ill
health too because, even though you might fidget and get up occasionally to go to the toilet or make
food, you're nonetheless spending too long sitting down. Inactivity can lead to health issues, including
muscle pain, a slower metabolism, and, over greater periods, more serious risks like heart disease. This is
without factoring in all those snacks you'll inevitably eat while binge-watching. Temptation can be too
great, so you'll tuck into a big bar of chocolate without thinking. Those calories certainly add up. It takes
a lot of exercise to catch up on those lost hours.

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