Streaming Through Relationships

"Netflix and Chill" isn’t just a phrase in this day and age. For some, it’s a lifestyle. We’ve become so addicted to our screens but how exactly does the addiction of streaming platforms impact us individually as people? From decreased quality time to unrealistic expectations portrayed on screen, in this article, I am covering it all. 

As a film lover myself, I tend to emulate what I see on screen especially if I relate to the characters. However, the relationships we see on media that is streaming on digital platforms is vastly different from what we see in real life. Excessive streaming can cause a disconnect to the foundations we have with our connections with other people. Instead of being present in reality, from cute rom-coms like "To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before" to raunchy teen dramas like "Never Have I Ever", we’re on Netflix living our own fantasies.

There should be a consciousness within consumers, especially the youth, to be mindful of their perceptions and attitudes towards media from streaming platforms since this affects the perception of their relationships in real life as it makes them too idealistic. Certain research even shows that since teenage years are one of the most vital stages of a person’s life, Netflix has influenced this stage with how teens think and behave, creating a fictional world, where they can escape reality. With the increase in accessibility of media in streaming platforms, more and more teens consume media and believe that this is how real life should go, opting to stick to their computers rather than other people. You go to your cousin nowadays and instead of playing with dolls, you’re on your phone. Lack of social relationships also are an effect of the rise of streaming platforms. More teens are confirmed spending more time watching Netflix with friends or alone rather than with family. Likewise, research indicated that people tend to disassociate from their friends because of their addiction/focus on streaming services. There are also studies that suggest that individuals with binge-watching tendencies are more likely to be affected by depression because of their need to escape their current state of mind and consume more media as a coping mechanism.

But it can’t all be bad... right? I mean surely there are some positives to streaming, like a bond is formed within couples through liking and sharing the same interest in shows from streaming platforms. When people lack a shared circle of friends with their partners, sharing media may compensate for this and make them closer. There’s definitely a certain excitement with finding out someone loves the same Netflix show as you. Although on the surface this may be a good point, dissecting it further, this is just another form of escapism. Rather than facing reality, these couples are building a bubble from themselves and others. Instead of compensating for a lack of personal relationships in real life, people need to take a break and a breather from all the noise of the addictive binge-watching they practice.

To conclude, let’s summarize what was stated as if it were a string. How is this intertwined, tangled, knotted, and connected in relation to our connections with other people? Human relationships are like an intricate web. Somehow, the digital age has weaved into the picture causing tangles and knots that prohibit us from fully connecting with ourselves and the ones we love. Yet, amidst all this, there's a reminder to untangle the digital distractions and prioritize genuine connections—because at its core, love is about navigating the complexities, unraveling the knots, and finding the true connection beneath the surface.