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Binge watching is easy to explain. It refers to the excessive consumption of TV series. Series junkies are particularly affected by this, as they watch several episodes or seasons in a row.
What is binge watching? All the info
You may be wondering what exactly “binge watching” is. It is a phenomenon that has been encouraged primarily by streaming providers such as Netflix and Disney+ and describes the excessive viewing of series, sometimes for hours on end.
- “Binge watching” literally means “watching in a binge-like manner.” Similar terms include “binge viewing” or “doing a series marathon.” Often, people watch several episodes or even entire seasons without a break. In science, binge watching refers to watching three or more episodes of a series in a row.
- In the past, series were broadcast on linear television. Since the program was determined by the TV station, you had to wait until the next day or the next week to see the new episode.
- The release of series on video cassettes and DVDs basically made binge watching possible. However, the individual episodes still appeared first on television, where they had already been seen by a large part of the audience.
- However, binge watching only really became widespread with video-on-demand providers such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. These offer a wide selection of series on demand. With many of these providers offering a fixed monthly price, there are no additional costs if you watch a lot of episodes. This makes binge watching particularly tempting.
- Cliffhangers, autoplay functions, and personalized recommendations on streaming platforms in particular reinforce the phenomenon. It’s easy to lose track of time and find it difficult to tear yourself away from the screen.
Risks of binge watching
Binge watching is excessive consumption behavior that is associated with various risks. The constant feeling of wasting time and spending the whole day in front of the screen can cause psychological stress. Loss of sense of time, irritability, and dissatisfaction are just some of the possible side effects.
- Spending a lot of time watching series can lead to neglecting social contacts and isolation. You sit in front of the screen for longer and longer and react irritably when others point this out to you.
- In addition, feelings of shame and guilt can arise, which in the worst case can lead to depression, as you know that excessive consumption is harmful. Nevertheless, it is often difficult to stop.
- Constant sitting leads to a lack of exercise. Among other things, this promotes obesity, heart disease, back problems, and high blood pressure. Since snacks such as chips or popcorn are often consumed during consumption, the risk of diabetes increases.
- People often watch series shortly before going to bed. Binge watching often leads to sleep deprivation and sleep problems. However, sleep is very important because the body regenerates during this time.
Measures against binge watching
With a few tips, binge watching can be consciously controlled so that you don’t fall into an addiction in the first place.
- Many streaming services, such as YouTube, allow you to disable the autoplay function. There are also timers and time limits that help you avoid exceeding your screen time.
- Conscious breaks, exercise, and interacting with family and friends are valuable factors in avoiding binge watching. Often, people watch series out of boredom. One way to counteract this is to try out new hobbies and leisure activities.
- To avoid sleep disorders, it is also worth turning off the blue light on your screen.
