Project 3 Rough Draft
Finding something new to watch can be an incredibly daunting and exhausting task. Whether you’re scrolling down YouTube, looking at Netflix, or waiting for a new theater release, it feels almost impossible to pick the good from the bad. So why is it so hard to find something good? Or rather, why is it hard for us to enjoy what’s there? (Need to rewrite with finished project in mind. Clearer thesis)
Let’s look at the first step, the selection process. The article, Fernandez, Cledwyn. “The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less.” Vikalpa: The Journal for Decision Makers, vol. 42, no. 4, 2017, summarizes research on how choices can affect human behavior. According to the article, people face an array of choice-based decisions every day, but as the selection increases, so does the complexity. We as humans are so focused on maximizing the return-to-cost ratio that we end up burdening ourselves with all the variables. When the variables become too much to handle, people often find themselves back in the same situation or in a worse one. This phenomenon can be observed everywhere in economics, marketing, and psychology. For example, if you wanted to buy fast food, but couldn’t figure out where to get the best quality for the lowest price, you could decide to give up and not eat. This same principle shows up in the selection process. Anyone who owns or has access to a large streaming service, like Netflix or Disney+, is well aware of the overwhelming amount of content provided.
Some may wonder, since they’re already paying for the service, having access to a greater amount of content should be better, right? It’s not like shopping, where you would have to compare items you haven’t bought yet. So, return to cost shouldn’t be a concern.
While this reasoning is understandable and logical, it overlooks one thing. Transactionally, a return or cost doesn’t have to be strictly material, like money. Return could simply be your enjoyment, and cost could be your time. In a study sampled from a group of Netflix subscribers, Kim, Hun, Jong-Hwan Choi, and Tan-Tan Bao. “Why Does Netflix Syndrome Occur: A Study on the Effect of Content Choice Deferral on Stress.” Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research, vol. 13, no. 1, 2025, pp. 3–29, the fear of time-related regret was found to be one of the biggest factors in causing “choice deferral,” the struggle of making a decision.
The study also tests the relationship between these phenomena and the user’s experience. The results showed that there’s a strong correlation between content overload, choice deferral, and user stress (Kim et al). Meaning, when there’s an overwhelming amount of content and users spend more time searching for something to watch, it can bring out negative emotions and stress. This is a very big factor in why some are struggling to enjoy shows. Struggling to pick from the vast options can increase the time cost even more than watching something you regret. So, the difficult process of selection can end up ruining the experience and leave the viewer with a bad taste in their mouth.
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However, not everyone faces this issue. Some people choose at random, or can pick out an interest very quickly. Even the previously mentioned study only had about 50% of survey respondents experience any content deferral-related difficulty or stress (Kim et al). Those people don’t have that negative 1st impression, and are 1 step closer to watching something they enjoy, but there are still some issues they could face.
Many have started to take issue not just with the streaming service, but the shows themselves. As demonstrated in Forlini, Emily. “Netflix Is Telling Writers to Dumb Down Shows Since Viewers Are on Their Phones.” PCMag, 2 Jan. 2025, People are complaining that a lot of Netflix content feels simple or awkward. It feels like creative, compelling content can be hard to find today, especially on services like Netflix, but that might be the way they want it. According to the N+1 magazine, executives are pushing writers to finalize simpler and less complex scripts. This is to keep distracted viewers just engaged enough. Netflix is aware that as many as 95% viewers are on their phones while watching TV, and now they’re adjusting to it. By dumbing down scripts and narrating the action, they can compensate for the lack of visual cues and allow viewers with divided attention to follow along. The hope is that if the show keeps people barely engaged, then they’ll be more likely to watch for longer.
While this may work to cater to a specific audience, those seeking to watch the show have started to notice the change. One infamous example is from “Irish Wish”, a rom-com staring Lindsey Lohan. At one point, Lohan tells James, the love interest, “We spent a day together. I admit it was a beautiful day filled with dramatic vistas and romantic rain, but that doesn’t give you the right to question my life choices. Tomorrow, I’m marrying Paul Kennedy.” which is then followed up with, “Fine. That will be the last you see of me because after this job is over, I’m off to Bolivia to photograph an endangered tree lizard”(Forlini). Both sentences are full of descriptive imagery, narrative recaps, and a bit of unnecessary info to keep distracted viewers informed; on the other hand, for those who were mentally caught up, it seems robotic and redundant.
There’s a consistent pattern clearly outlining Netflix’s new business model. There’s even been some reports from show producers that services have sent scripts back for “not being 2nd screen enough.” It’s gotten to the point where some viewers have even taken to the internet to seek clarification on whether scripts are AI-written or not (Forlini).
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So, where things are headed, it’s starting to look bleak. Like, no matter what we, the viewers, can’t get a win. However, that’s not the case. There is a possible solution explored in “Why Does Netflix Syndrome Occur: A Study on the Effect of Content Choice Deferral on Stress.” It can be hard to choose what to watch or feel confident in your decision, and you might even end up hating what you did choose, but it’s possible to make this go away completely. What they found in the study is that in social relationships, if two or more people share recommendations for content, then the issue of choice deferral gets removed entirely, and related stress is drastically reduced. Not only that, but a show recommended by a trusted person can lead the viewer to go in with a more positive and confident mindset.
In conclusion, it often feels difficult to enjoy content in the age of streaming. Either because there’s too much to choose from, you’re afraid to waste your time, or because you don’t find it compelling. However, there is hope in learning and sharing with others. (Need to take more time to develop the conclusion)
