Is binge-watching the new addiction_

[00:00.13] Have you ever loved a TV show? I mean really loved it? Like, you can’t wait to get to work to talk about it loved it?

[00:12.35] What about the cliffhanger? That’s the unresolved situation at the end of the episode which makes you want to watch the next one.

[00:20.59] But, when will the next one be?

[00:24.84] In the past, viewers had to wait up to a week for the next episode of their favourite shows.

[00:30.68] What agony! But, that’s not the case any more.

[00:35.46] And hand in hand with that comes a, possibly dangerous, growing social trend. We speak of binge-watching.

[00:47.68] Binge-watching is when a person watches more than one episode of a show in quick succession.

[00:54.32] With developments in the speed and connectivity of the internet, increases in technology and the rise of on-demand entertainment companies, people can now have their favourite shows streamed directly to their television at their convenience.

[01:11.59] This behaviour is nothing new. In fact, ‘binge-watching’ has been officially listed in dictionaries since 2015.

[01:20.09] The entertainment companies recognise this behaviour and many take steps to encourage it.

[01:26.20] Often, instead of releasing each episode on a week-by-week basis, an entire series will become available concurrently.

[01:35.76] Once the episode finishes, many platforms will display pop-ups with ‘you might like’ suggestions, or will automatically play the next episode.

[01:45.59] However, this wondrous gift may in fact be a poisoned chalice.

[01:50.90] Recent research from British media watchdog Ofcom suggests that this behaviour may have become a hindrance.

[01:59.13] Out of the more than half of British adults who watch more than one episode of a show back-to-back, almost a third have admitted missing sleep or becoming tired as a result;

[02:12.42] and one quarter have neglected their household chores.

[02:16.13] Next we'll be missing work!

[02:19.59] Bingeing has other connections – binge eating, binge drinking and binge smoking.

[02:25.43] All of which are often associated with compulsive behaviour, a lack of control and a possible route to addiction.

[02:33.66] Lindsey Fussell, consumer group director at Ofcom, said: "The days of waiting a week for the next episode are largely gone, with people finding it hard to resist watching multiple episodes around the house or on the move.”

[02:48.81] If people find binge-watching hard to resist, coupled with the fact that it has shown to lead to negligence in many, are we witnessing the birth of a new type of addiction?

[03:02.35] The myriad of information and entertainment that television and online media can bring us is, many would say, a good thing.

[03:11.12] It offers us opportunities to better understand the world we live in, educate ourselves and enjoy much needed downtime.

[03:19.62] However, like any behaviour done to excess, it can become dangerous.

[03:25.99] And when the activity begins to bleed into other areas, causing us to stop functioning – then it becomes a problem.

[03:34.49] So, what’s the answer? Moderation! Neither a tiny amount, nor too much.

[03:40.60] After all, as the old proverb says… a little of what you fancy does you good.