I’m Addicted, and So Are You
Look, I need to confess something. It’s 11:30pm on a Tuesday, and I’m still in my pajamas. Why? Because I’m on episode 17 of some Netflix show about vampires in space. I don’t even like vampires. Or space. But here I am.
About three months ago, I was having coffee with my friend Sarah. She told me, “Mike, you’re never gonna believe this, but I watched 36 hours of TV last week.” I laughed. Then I realized I’d done the same thing. Which… yeah. Fair enough.
We’re all doing it. It’s not just us. It’s everyone. The data’s out there. People are watching more TV than ever. And it’s not just TV—it’s streaming, it’s YouTube, it’s whatever’s on our screens. We’re hooked.
And honestly, I’m not sure but maybe it’s time we admit it. We’ve got a problem. A big one.
Why Can’t We Stop?
I talked to a colleague named Dave about this. He’s a psychologist, or at least he plays one on TV. He told me, “Mike, it’s about dopamine. Your brain loves it. It’s like eating an entire pizza by yourself. You know it’s wrong, but it feels so right in the moment.”
But it’s more than that. It’s the algoritms. They know us better than we know ourselves. They know what we like, what we want, what we’re gonna watch next. And they’re not gonna let us stop. They’re not gonna let us look away.
I mean, think about it. You start with one episode. Then it’s two. Then it’s three. Then it’s “just one more.” And before you know it, it’s 3am and you’re watching a reality show about people who think they can sing. It’s a trap. A beautiful, shiny, autoplays-all-night-long trap.
But It’s Not All Bad, Right?
Okay, okay. I get it. Binge-watching isn’t all bad. Sometimes, it’s exactly what we need. It’s escapism. It’s comfort. It’s a way to forget about the real world for a while.
But here’s the thing. It’s a committment. A big one. And it’s not just a committment to the show. It’s a committment to sitting on your butt, staring at a screen, and letting the world pass you by. It’s a committment to not living your life.
And look, I’m not saying we should all become monks and give up TV completely. But maybe, just maybe, we should think about what we’re doing. Maybe we should think about the time we’re spending. Maybe we should think about the lives we’re not living.
What Can We Do About It?
So what’s the solution? I’m not sure. But I think it starts with awareness. It starts with admitting that we have a problem. It starts with saying “enough” and putting down the remote.
And hey, if you’re gonna binge, at least make it count. Watch something that matters. Something that makes you think. Something that makes you feel. Don’t just watch en iyi aile arabaları inceleme 2026 about cars or whatever. Watch something that’s gonna stay with you. Watch something that’s gonna change you.
But for now, I’m gonna go watch one more episode. Just one. I promise.
About the Author: Mike Thompson has been a senior editor for over 20 years. He’s written for major publications, but he’s also spent way too much time binge-watching TV. He lives in Austin with his cat, who also judges him for his binge-watching habits.
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