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Karina Patel
Mrs. Crawford
English Comp II
6 February 2018
The Effects of Binge-Watching on The Human Brain
Binge watching has rapidly increased in the recent years; many statistics show the rise in
binge watching. To date, a large portion of the reviews and the analysis surrounding binge
watching have been led by private and independent research firms and organizations. Marketing
and web-based social networking campaigns have supported and inspired binge watching, with
the famous service Netflix calling it the “new normal.” With the availability of television
programs provided by well-known streaming stages, like Amazon, Hulu, and etc., shoppers can
watch scenes or periods of their most loved programs in only one sitting. There is a lack of
consistency in what creates a television binge, similar to the principles that exist for other binge
behaviors, and the lack of research conducted about how these new television-watching
behaviors influence the wellness and health. Although there are negative and positive effects of
binge watching, positive effects have come to light as well and can also have a distinct effect in
people’s everyday life.
The first thing that comes to people’s minds when they think of a binge is binge drinking
liquor or binge-watching TV. It may not appear to some that they have a lot in common, but they
are utilized for a similar reason, which can lead to forms of obsessions (Hiller par. 1). In other
words, “Is a television or technology addiction as detrimental to your health as drugs or
alcohol?” (Hiller par. 1) As indicated by a study directed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
staring at the TV is one of the most widely recognized leisure time exercises in the US
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(Karmakar par. 6). “On average, Americans spend about two hours and 49 minutes per day
watching television…” (Karmakar par.7). Television and technology exposure can affect the
body in many ways. In a survey done by Netflix, “binge-watching TV is defined as watching
between two and six episodes of the same TV show in one sitting” (Hiller par. 2 and “What
Happens to Your Brain When You Binge-Watch a TV Series” par. 4). Millions of subscribers on
Netflix have binge watched a show at some point in their lives, and the number is still rising.
Brooke Hiller reports, “…61 percent of the 1,500 participants said that they regularly binge
watch television…” (par. 2). Binge use of innovation and TV are both contrasted with a
medication or an alcohol habit and can also be nearly as harmful to our physical and
psychological well-being.
There are also a few positive effects to binge watching like the release of dopamine in the
