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TV binge watching How it affects our lives
By Israa Radaydeh, Jordan News
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Ramadan is usually the month when, after breaking fast, people relax in
front of the TV, watching their favorite series. Faced with the huge production
available on streaming platforms like Netflix and Prime Video, binge watching
is tempting and easy.اضافة اعلان
The urge to rush to the next episode gets many glued to the screen; it is like an addiction that may be difficult to shake.
By immersing themselves in series, people often try to escape reality. The plotlines, though, often touch on familiar issues — social matters, marriage, and relationships. At other times they deal with sci-fi, history, or comedy. Whatever the case, they could be addictive.
Binge-watching causes the brain to release a neurotransmitter called dopamine, which is often referred to as the “happy hormone”. Psychologist Walaa Daragmeh told Jordan News: “This chemical substance creates a feeling of pleasure which makes people want to continue viewing shows.”
This rush of pleasure is no longer felt when the TV is turned off, hence the “addiction”.
Binge watching, which, as the name implies, means watching television for an extended period of time has become widespread. It does come at a price, though.
“It is considered an addiction that can have serious health consequences,” Daragmeh said.
One of the purposes of watching an episode of a series is to relax. However, watching without stopping for hours on end has harmful effects on physical and mental health.
“Spending hours in front of the TV promotes weight gain,” Daragmeh says.
Besides the physical harm, there may be psychological consequences. Some people prefer the company of the characters in the series to real-life people. This may lead, in the long run, to depression.
It makes sense to feel sad about the death of a particular character, or to sympathize with a protagonist when the story takes a negative turn, especially when one relates with the TV character.
Viewers may also develop dependence. Having trouble stopping is a bad sign.
According to Daragmeh, TV characters may “turn into friends of ours, and it is therefore natural to hang on to them, shedding tears at their suffering”.
And while “it is true that grief is a negative emotion that we do not enjoy, and tragic programs make us sad, we still seem to enjoy watching it daily”.
As Daragmeh points out, “we invest ourselves in the meaning created by the storylines, exciting events of the show, and the worlds in which it all happens. When it is all over, we are left facing a tedious reality, which affect your mood”.
Moreover, “binge watching could disturb our sleep, which is related to the light exposure before going to bed,” she said, adding that “the drama, tension, suspense, and action of good TV shows, also increase the heart rate, blood pressure, and adrenaline. When you finally go to bed, you may feel like you have just been through a stressful experience, which is not conducive to sleep”.
Spending much time in front of the screen not doing anything affects our eating habit as well; one may be tempted to snack often, which eventually increases the risk of obesity and other diseases.
Streaming platforms have every interest in using techniques that increase the time spent in front of the screen. Each aired series counts on carefully chosen actors and captivating scenarios to obsess the viewer.
Series have two assets that films do not have, and it is these two characteristics that make them addictive. The first is the length of an episode. Shorter than a feature film, series usually suit the maximum attention span of the human brain. Then, each episode has a cliffhanger. The last scene leaves the spectator in suspense, impatient to know how the situation will develop for the characters.
The pilot of a series is also important in streaming platform strategy. This first episode of the season often has such a well constructed plot that you just have to see it to want to see the rest. Often, the credits and the trailer are as addictive as the rest of the series.
There are so many different series that, inevitably, one or the other of the characters will look like us. The subscriber identifies with his favorite character and sees him evolve over the episodes. He sees him struggling with his contradictions and his weaknesses, which makes him very human. The character ends up being part of the viewer’s daily life.
Even when he does not identify with a character, following his adventures brings the viewer experience in terms of human relations or allows him to relax.
Netflix or Amazon Prime offer a wide range of content to their subscribers, which is constantly renewed. Subscribers often watch several series at the same time. In addition, when a series is almost over, algorithms that analyze your centers of interest and your tastes allow streaming platforms to make appropriate suggestions.
The platform launches the pilot of a series that will be released soon, and which you will surely love. The result? You see the pilot, and you are going to follow this new series. The proof that these programs work well? We all have a list of series to see that is growing day by day.
The most addictive thing about these platforms is that one can watch a whole season (or the whole series) one after the other. No more waiting a week between broadcasts.
In order not to give in to binge watching, Daragmeh said that it is essential to use moderation.
“Try not to swallow the seasons at once and follow up with another as soon as the first one is over. Binge watching is a way of watching TV that is unique to you; it is up to you to change it. A little digital detox from time to time cannot hurt. Disconnect and go for a walk,” she advises.
Read more Lifestyle
Jordan News
The urge to rush to the next episode gets many glued to the screen; it is like an addiction that may be difficult to shake.
By immersing themselves in series, people often try to escape reality. The plotlines, though, often touch on familiar issues — social matters, marriage, and relationships. At other times they deal with sci-fi, history, or comedy. Whatever the case, they could be addictive.
Binge-watching causes the brain to release a neurotransmitter called dopamine, which is often referred to as the “happy hormone”. Psychologist Walaa Daragmeh told Jordan News: “This chemical substance creates a feeling of pleasure which makes people want to continue viewing shows.”
This rush of pleasure is no longer felt when the TV is turned off, hence the “addiction”.
Binge watching, which, as the name implies, means watching television for an extended period of time has become widespread. It does come at a price, though.
“It is considered an addiction that can have serious health consequences,” Daragmeh said.
One of the purposes of watching an episode of a series is to relax. However, watching without stopping for hours on end has harmful effects on physical and mental health.
“Spending hours in front of the TV promotes weight gain,” Daragmeh says.
Besides the physical harm, there may be psychological consequences. Some people prefer the company of the characters in the series to real-life people. This may lead, in the long run, to depression.
We invest ourselves in the meaning created by the storylines, exciting events of the show, and the worlds in which it all happens. When it is all over, we are left facing a tedious reality, which affect your mood.Depression may also set in when the season ends and they have to wait to see the rest of the series. Post-series depression is not uncommon among viewers who develop a very strong attachment to the characters and the series ends. Some even feel like they have lost a loved one.
It makes sense to feel sad about the death of a particular character, or to sympathize with a protagonist when the story takes a negative turn, especially when one relates with the TV character.
Viewers may also develop dependence. Having trouble stopping is a bad sign.
According to Daragmeh, TV characters may “turn into friends of ours, and it is therefore natural to hang on to them, shedding tears at their suffering”.
And while “it is true that grief is a negative emotion that we do not enjoy, and tragic programs make us sad, we still seem to enjoy watching it daily”.
As Daragmeh points out, “we invest ourselves in the meaning created by the storylines, exciting events of the show, and the worlds in which it all happens. When it is all over, we are left facing a tedious reality, which affect your mood”.
Moreover, “binge watching could disturb our sleep, which is related to the light exposure before going to bed,” she said, adding that “the drama, tension, suspense, and action of good TV shows, also increase the heart rate, blood pressure, and adrenaline. When you finally go to bed, you may feel like you have just been through a stressful experience, which is not conducive to sleep”.
Spending much time in front of the screen not doing anything affects our eating habit as well; one may be tempted to snack often, which eventually increases the risk of obesity and other diseases.
Streaming platforms have every interest in using techniques that increase the time spent in front of the screen. Each aired series counts on carefully chosen actors and captivating scenarios to obsess the viewer.
Series have two assets that films do not have, and it is these two characteristics that make them addictive. The first is the length of an episode. Shorter than a feature film, series usually suit the maximum attention span of the human brain. Then, each episode has a cliffhanger. The last scene leaves the spectator in suspense, impatient to know how the situation will develop for the characters.
Streaming platforms have every interest in using techniques that increase the time spent in front of the screen. Each aired series counts on carefully chosen actors and captivating scenarios to obsess the viewer.
The pilot of a series is also important in streaming platform strategy. This first episode of the season often has such a well constructed plot that you just have to see it to want to see the rest. Often, the credits and the trailer are as addictive as the rest of the series.
There are so many different series that, inevitably, one or the other of the characters will look like us. The subscriber identifies with his favorite character and sees him evolve over the episodes. He sees him struggling with his contradictions and his weaknesses, which makes him very human. The character ends up being part of the viewer’s daily life.
Even when he does not identify with a character, following his adventures brings the viewer experience in terms of human relations or allows him to relax.
Netflix or Amazon Prime offer a wide range of content to their subscribers, which is constantly renewed. Subscribers often watch several series at the same time. In addition, when a series is almost over, algorithms that analyze your centers of interest and your tastes allow streaming platforms to make appropriate suggestions.
The platform launches the pilot of a series that will be released soon, and which you will surely love. The result? You see the pilot, and you are going to follow this new series. The proof that these programs work well? We all have a list of series to see that is growing day by day.
The most addictive thing about these platforms is that one can watch a whole season (or the whole series) one after the other. No more waiting a week between broadcasts.
In order not to give in to binge watching, Daragmeh said that it is essential to use moderation.
“Try not to swallow the seasons at once and follow up with another as soon as the first one is over. Binge watching is a way of watching TV that is unique to you; it is up to you to change it. A little digital detox from time to time cannot hurt. Disconnect and go for a walk,” she advises.
Read more Lifestyle
Jordan News
