Binge Watching: Hidden Dangers of College Age Students' Favorite Habit

In recent years there has been a rise is the phenomena of binge watching, which stems from access to entire season of television content. The common definition given by most streaming services and research studies includes the act of watching more than two shows from the same series in a single sitting (Walton- Pattison, Dombrowski, Presseau, 2016). As the access to entire seasons of television content becomes easier, binge watching has become a cultural phenomenon, particularly among college-age students who see it as a way to alleviate stress. This paper delves into the various impacts on mental, psychological, emotional, and relational aspects of viewers' lives, and aims to understand and address the potential negative consequences of this behavior. By analyzing recent researches on binge watching, this essay seeks to shed light on the effects of watching more than two shows from the same series in a single sitting, and how it has become a casual occurrence in our modern society.

In a culture full of busy, stressed, and tired, people, consumers still somehow manage to make time to “binge” their favorite series (Swati, Satyendra, 2017). Binge watching relates to our more recent instant gratification expectation in that binge watching used to not be fathomable. One could only watch as much of a show as was being run on television. When streaming services entered the equation, culture shifted, particularly in young adults (Swati, Satyendra, 2017). Along with that shift came many mental health concerns. In a study analyzing the relationship between binge watching and psychological effects among college students, particular attention was taken to dissects the relationship between binge-watching television and depressive symptoms (Wheeler, 2015). These symptoms include social isolation along with sleep and appetite changes. Video streaming services have changed the way people all over the world watch television. Rather than watching favorite shows on TV weekly, consumers now have access to it whenever and wherever they want. Streaming makes it easy to mindlessly watch multiple episodes in one sitting which ultimately leads to symptoms of loneliness and depression (Wheeler, 2015). In 2013, a study was conducted that found that “88 percent of Netflix users and 70 percent of Hulu Plus users reported watching at least three episodes of the same program in one day” (Swati, Satyendra, 2017, p. 425).

Excessive consumption has come to define the standard for the societal norm among college students. College users make up a large portion of the viewers of streaming programs, thus these viewers are the primary focus for research conducted on the statistical evidence of binge watching (Swati, Satyendra, 2017). Why, when the overall health of one’s being is at stake, would someone then continue to binge watch? It is because some users have literally become addicted to streaming shows. Until recently, little was known about the effects of binge watching and how it may even be considered an addiction (Brookshire, 2013). The word addiction is linked to drug or alcohol abuse. However, both substance abuse as well as a few specific behaviors may lead to dependence. A definition of describes behavioral addiction as “the use of repetitive actions, initiated by an impulse that can’t be stopped, causing an individual to escape, numb, soothe, release tension, lessen anxiety, or feel euphoric” (Karim & Chaudri, 2012, p. 5). Similarly to substance abuse; abuse of streaming shows could lead to a cureless addiction.

When watching a show for long periods of time, the human brain will release a chemical called dopamine. This chemical, known for making you feel good, is what the human brain releases to simulate a reward (Brookshire, 2013). “All abused drugs, from alcohol to cocaine to heroin, increase dopamine in this area in one way or another, and many people like to describe a spike in dopamine” as a type of motivation; meaning the way dopamine affects the chemical balance in our brains describes why drugs, and binge watching, are so addictive (Brookshire, 2013, p. 1). By watching multiple episodes of a show on a streaming service, people experience similar releases of dopamine (Brookshire, 2013). Meaning, binge watching has the potential to be just as addictive as any drug.

Along with the chemical effects, another factor that must be considered when discussing binge watching, is the emotional impact it has on viewers. Beginning around 2013, the phenomenon of binge watching revolutionized media intake (Sung, Kang, and Lee, 2018). Now, for a small monthly fee, whole seasons of original shows are available to viewers at the touch of a button. What comes to question is the positive and negative emotional effects binge watching, compared to the consumption of cable TV, has upon college age viewers (Sung, Kang, and Lee, 2018). Studies have shown that consumers use TV, media, and streaming video, to escape the pressures from their normal lives (Sung, Kang, and Lee, 2018). Yet, the worry for researchers is that unlike TV streaming shows allow viewers to sit in a media-induced stupor for days, rather than just hours, fleeing the reality of the world around them.

Recent studies also discovered that when consumers watch the last episode of the show they have been enveloped in, they may experience depression or loneliness because they do not have access to a distraction from stress (Sung, Kang, and Lee, 2018). Though many studies have shown that binge watching can be detrimental to well being, other studies have shown that binge watching can act as a healthy coping device. Research done in 2014 even concluded that binge watching could be a “restorative experience” (Swati, Satyendra, 2017, p. 427). Similar studies suggest that for college age students the “escape motivation” is not the driving force behind binge watching (Sung, Kang, and Lee, 2018, p. 421). Instead, research suggests that college age students binge watch because it is simply more enjoyable and accessible than cable TV (Sung, Kang, and Lee, 2018). This could have positive implications for college age consumers because it may mean that students are not trying “escape” their lives, but rather merely appreciate them (Sung, Kang, and Lee, 2018, p. 423)

After considering the emotional implications of binge watching, it can be inferred that binge watching has the ability to be healthy for a college student. Research shows that socially this theory remains true for many reasons, one being that it helps with “binge-bonding” (Wheeler, 2015, p. 4). The theory behind this is that “sessions with a peer” or a “date night” can be enhanced by binge watching. Some would argue that it is better to binge watch a show with someone important to you in a quiet place rather than spend quality time in public (Willen, 2013). Another interesting aspect of binge watching in college culture, is the willingness people have to conform their priorities in order to fit in. Binge watching has the ability to allow students to be social involved with others, since being aware of pop culture can increase the odds for creating conversations. To some people the “that feeling of inferiority when you are ‘behind’ in a popular program” causes anxiety or even creates a competitive environment that can adversely influence how they assimilate with culture (Wheeler, 2015, p. 4).

The binge watching phenomena is obviously going to have implications on the mental, psychological, emotional, and relational facets of consumers. While some of these effects can be negative, others could positively shape the ever evolving society. Due to the prevalence of the phenomena, binge watching is not something to ignore, but rather to be aware of and understand. While some research points to some positive effects, ultimately if binge watching goes unchecked, the mental, psychological, emotional, and relational aspects could accumulate and have potentially negative impacts on the viewer.