“Binge-viewing” refers to the act of watching many television programs or video content continuously in a short period of time. The term is often associated with streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video, as these platforms allow viewers the freedom to choose and watch content on their own schedule, without the constraints of traditional television schedules. Netflix has some peculiarities in this regard, which releases some of its original series as full seasons in one-off releases, allowing viewers to watch entire seasons back-to-back in a short period of time. In 2011, Netflix signed a contract to produce its first original drama House of Cards. In 2013, all 13 episodes of the first season were released.

In the same year, the entire first season of Orange Is the New Black was released.

This release model encourages binge-viewing behavior, as viewers no longer must wait for new episodes every week but can watch entire story arcs in one go.

The one-off release model of entire seasons adopted by Netflix is one of the key factors in binge-viewing. This model feeds viewers’ need for instant gratification, allowing them to consume as much content as possible in a single viewing session.

Netflix’s personalised recommendation algorithm analyses viewers’ viewing history and interests to recommend content more relevant to their tastes. Such customised recommendations may make it easier for viewers to watch related programs back-to-back.

Binge-viewing itself is not necessarily problematic, but excessive and continuous viewing may cause some health and social problems.

Health Issues: Excessive viewing may result in prolonged screen exposure, which may have effects on eye and body health. In addition, prolonged periods of sitting may also be associated with lifestyle diseases.

Social Isolation: Continuous viewing can lead to social isolation, as viewers may spend a lot of time in front of a screen instead of interacting with others.

Insomnia: Excessive viewing at night may interfere with normal sleep patterns, as blue light radiation and plot suspense may affect falling asleep.

Binge-viewing is criticised, mainly because excessive viewing can have negative health and social effects. However, this is not an issue experienced by everyone, and moderate recreational activity is usually acceptable on its own. The key is to maintain a balance, be aware of the impact that excessive viewing can have on a person’s health and social life and take steps to ensure a balance between entertainment and other aspects of life.

In summary, perceptions of binge-viewing may vary from person to person, depending on individual viewing habits, lifestyle, and health status.

By Chaowei Zhi