Why Binging Media Negatively Affects a Person, by Aaliyah Sharma

Why Binging Negatively Affects a Person. 

by Aaliyah Sharma

  Let's talk about the weekend. It's finally here: the huge eight-episode season premiere of the popular show. You order takeout, postpone your plans, and stare at the screen for about ten hours straight until the credits have begun. By Sunday evening, you've gotten through it all. How do you feel immediately after? Are you happy? Feeling energized? Are you prepared to discuss the finale for a week. The answer is typically hollow if you're like me. Perhaps a bit worn out. You immediately begin scrolling in search of the next item to fill the void. Compare this to the thrill of anticipating a week's worth of episodes of a show you love. Think about watching a show that used to air once a week. After watching on Sunday evening, you would think about the cliffhanger throughout Monday and Tuesday. At lunch, you and your friends would examine every clue. The show turned into an entire event.

        In my opinion, entertainment is becoming less important as a result of our developed impulse to consume everything at once. Binging reduces our happiness rather than increases it. Think of your content to be similar to eating. You're basically giving your brain a huge, high-sugar, high-dopamine rush when you binge. For the hour you're watching, it feels amazing, but the continual neurological "dump" is draining. For ten minutes, it feels great, but then, you feel sick or maybe even guilty, similar to when you eat a whole tub of ice cream all at once. The human brain was not designed to process immediate, endless information. Nothing feels unique when everything is available at once. Everything simply merges into a single, unclear piece of information.  Moreover, bingeing is a private activity. Anticipation, which is really half the fun, is the biggest casualty.  By giving you time to reflect and think about what you just saw, waiting for the next episode makes the experience interactive and helps the story stay in your long-term memory. 

         I noticed that I was rushing through my entertainment in order to finish it, treating it like homework. I have decided to begin pacing myself. Intentionally slowing down allows you to appreciate the details, such as the writing and the actors' subtle choices, rather than just rushing to the end of the story. The focus moves from just finishing the plot to truly appreciating it, which enhances the experience and makes it feel more valuable.

        The world we live in is rushing everyone. However, you should not rush your enjoyment because your time is valuable. Choose a new movie, book, or show and make yourself slow down. See if you actually enjoy it more after you pace yourself.