Is Netflix Making Us Lazy!?

Whether it’s binge-watching a new series with your friends on the weekend or watching your favorite movie after a long day, the integration of streaming services like Netflix into our lives is undeniable. With over 270 million monthly subscribers, Netflix has connected people worldwide with popular movies and shows at an affordable price. 

However, when it interferes with other important components of our lives, such as sleep and work, we should take a step back and consider the underlying consequences of overconsumption.

I love Netflix, and I used to watch a couple of episodes of my favorite shows almost every weekend during the school year. However, this summer, I’ve been consuming a lot more content than usual, leading to significantly less sleep and making me tired and lethargic throughout the day.

I researched and learned more about what watching content at night does to sleep, which led to more reading on the other negative impacts watching too much has on us. Today, I’m sharing my research on what Netflix actually does to the brain and how overconsumption of digital content, in general, changes our behavior.

Netflix is Messing with our Sleep!

Sleep is incredibly important. It helps us recover from today and energize for tomorrow. It is one of the most important factors that decide our mood and energy levels throughout the day.

The rise of Netflix has interfered with many people's sleep worldwide. Many subscribers enjoy binge-watching their favorite shows at night, which decreases both sleep quantity and quality. 

Many people fall into this bad habit because of the way Netflix is designed. Features like “autoplay” and “continue watching” are engineered to encourage us to watch more, and the wide range of content has something for almost everyone. 

According to the "More Zzz's Please" study by Amerisleep, 46% of respondents said, “The addictive nature of their favorite shows made it so hard to sleep at night.” Watching content before sleeping affects your brain activity, leading to disturbed thoughts and dreams. 

The devices on which we watch the content are also problematic. The blue light from the screens we watch Netflix on disrupts our circadian rhythms and decreases melatonin, which directly impacts the quality of our sleep and recovery.

Sleep deficiency can make you feel more angry and cranky than usual, leading to lethargy and lower energy levels later in the day. On a larger scale, it is linked to many chronic problems, like heart disease, diabetes, and depression.

It Changes our Brain and Behaviour

While it may not be serious, consuming a lot of content from platforms like Netflix every day can disrupt other aspects of our daily lives. As I wrote earlier, one of the most prominent aspects it may affect is our sleep and recovery. 

However, there are much more significant implications that overconsumption can have.

You may have felt lethargic and tired after binge-watching a Netflix series for a few hours, even though you haven’t done any strenuous physical or mental activity. 

This is because when we watch Netflix, our brain releases dopamine, which makes us feel good and can help distract us. There are many adverse effects of high dopamine, however, such as addiction and dopamine crashes.

Addiction

Addiction occurs when the release of dopamine from watching Netflix incentivizes us to repeat the activity. The more we consume content, the more our brain begins to crave and repeat it.

Dopamine Crashes

You may have heard the phrase, “What goes up must come down.” Every time our dopamine levels spike, there is always a subsequent crash. This makes us feel tired and lethargic after watching a long movie or binge-watching many episodes.

On a simpler level, watching more Netflix means less time for other essential activities like spending time with loved ones and physical activity. Although this impact may not seem so severe, it can compound into a larger issue. By prioritizing watching Netflix instead of playing your favorite sport, you not only miss out on the physical and social benefits but also risk becoming sedentary in the long run.

This also applies to the work aspect of our lives, where time spent consuming content means less time being productive, possibly building poor habits of using time less productively and making us lazier.

Final Thoughts

The integration of Netflix into our lives has definitely changed our behavior and contributed to a more sedentary lifestyle. The platform has revolutionized media and entertainment in a massively positive way. However, it has also led to the rise of binging and consuming high volumes of digital content, which has many negative consequences.

Late-night watchers risk damaging their recovery and energy for the next day, as well as chronic issues like heart and kidney disease. Furthermore, overconsumption can lead to addiction, which may interfere with the other aspects of our lives. From disrupting our physical health and relationships to taking a toll on our productivity, the impacts of addiction are wide-ranging. 

I still love Netflix and use it often. However, after researching and writing this article, I’ve significantly reduced my time spent watching movies and shows and put that time into other hobbies like playing tennis and reading. I also stopped watching something at night, which makes me feel much more energetic in the mornings and throughout the day. 

My goal is not to convince you to stop watching Netflix but rather to encourage you to find a healthy balance in your watching habits. Be aware of your time on the platform, and ensure it doesn’t compromise your health and well-being. Personally, I've reduced my screen time and found more energy for other activities like tennis and reading. Balance is key.

Bibliography

1. "Good Sleep for Good Health." NIH News in Health. https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2021/04/good-sleep-good-health#:~:text=Good%20sleep%20improves%20your%20brain,stroke%20to%20obesity%20and%20dementia.
   

2. Hyde, McKenzie. "More Zzz’s Please." Amerisleep. https://amerisleep.com/blog/more-zzzs-please/.
   

3. Silver, Curtis. "Netflix In Bed Bonks Your Sleep, According To This Amerisleep Study." Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/curtissilver/2018/01/25/netflix-sleep-study-amerisleep/.
   

4. Spong, Joshua. "The Negative Effects Of Increasing Your Dopamine." Modern Mind Masters. https://www.modernmindmasters.com/negative-effects-of-increasing-dopamine/.
   

5. Sussman, Steve, and Meghan B. Moran. "Hidden Addiction: Television." Journal of Behavioral Addictions, vol. 2, no. 3, Sept. 2013, pp. 125–32. https://doi.org/10.1556/jba.2.2013.008.
   

6. "What Are Sleep Deprivation and Deficiency?" NHLBI, NIH. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-deprivation#:~:text=Sleep%20deficiency%20is%20linked%20to,stroke%2C%20obesity%2C%20and%20depression.