#7 - Binge Watching
Binge Watching
Binge watching is a habit and past time that many people have adapted to in the past few years. Binge watching can be defined as the continuous consumption of content whether it be on YouTube or one of the many streaming services that are available in the modern day. Many young teens and adults partake in binge watching with statistics showing that at least 90% of millennials also participate in the phenomenon. With the large number of shows and visual content that already exists, and with the pool just continuing to grow as years go on, it seems that binge watching may become even more frequent than it is now and manifest itself in different ways.
I myself am guilty of binge watching on occasion, while usually during the school year I am typically pretty busy. During the summer or sometimes during studying, I will turn on a show of some kind while I do other activities. This time of year has been busy in terms of content I consume with many shows I keep up with releasing new seasons. A few show that falls into this lineup is the series Daredevil: Born Again, and more specifically the show Invincible. Invincible is a show produced by Amazon based on the comic series by Robert Kirkman, the show received critical acclaim with its first season releasing in 2021. Over time, the show has fallen and risen in popularity during its time with its 4th season just releasing this month. In preparation for the new season I took it upon myself to rewatch the past seasons of the show so I would be caught up before the new season released. I would usually turn on the show during times of study or when I was doing other things around my home or dorm. I used the practice of binge watching in this sense as a way to entertain my brain and engage my attention span while doing something I would otherwise consider mundane.
One important factor of binge watching is the negative aspect some studies say take effect during it. It is not a mystery that the invention of streaming services has obviously heavily influenced the nature of binge watching and the effects it can have on a viewer. Some studies show that an unhealthy amount of binge watching can result in disrupted sleep patterns and in some cases can be used as an unhealthy coping mechanism and encourage feelings of depression and loneliness. While I myself have never viewed binge watching as a negative thing, I always saw it as something that was considered normal for my generation. However, admittedly, there have been times where binge watching for me has been used in a way of procrastination from work that I had to do. This shows that binge watching can be utilized in a negative way so it is good to be aware of your habits and how it affects you.
One thing that I think is interesting that I have noticed is while I watch all types of shows and movies, typically when I have a show on in the background, it is usually animated. I have noticed I usually watch live action shows when my full attention can be provided. I believe that this is because with the very active and colorful nature of animation, it is just something my brain considers a good contrast to the otherwise mundane tasks I usually do when playing something. For example, Invincible is an animated action show, and during October I started the show Scooby Doo Where Are You, as I believe it fits the season. I watched the show as a kid but only put it on strictly for background noise. I believe this is just an interesting detail about some of my habits towards content and binge watching as I believe there is a psychological element behind the content that we consume.
In the modern day, binge watching is a trend and a habit that many people young and old possess. With streaming services appearing more and more as the years go on, it is clear that binge watching is going nowhere. However, it is important to note that binge watching can become unhealthy if not done in moderation, it can have negative physical and psychological effects on a viewer, so it is important to consume any content in moderation. In regards to my own habits, I believe I approach binge watching in a healthy way that works for me without being too intrusive on any part of my life. I typically use binge watching as a tool to increase my productivity and enjoyment when studying or doing other tasks. I believe this is a way I found has worked and serves me well in how I approach my media in my day to day life.
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