Introduction
COVID-19 has significantly changed the social lives and hobbies of millions of people worldwide who had to stay at home during mandatory restrictions. During these troubling times, individuals needed to find new ways of entertainment, and Netflix provided these opportunities. Netflix is the leading streaming platform that presents thousands of movies and TV series for viewers for an accessible price. As a result, Netflix became the primary source of entertainment in many households globally and helped people cope with pandemic restrictions and isolation. The current essay argues that Netflix has been a saving grace for many people during COVID-19, making people feel less lonely and concerned about the pandemic.
Netflix Growth and Barriers
The first argument that supports the essay’s thesis is the number of people who subscribed to Netflix during the pandemic restrictions. According to the statistics, Netflix gained approximately 16 million new subscribers during the second half of 2020, resulting in nearly 195 million overall subscribers by the end of the year (Ponciano). This growth was astonishing for the company’s standards and expectations, and it occurred mainly because of the pandemic restrictions. Additionally, the organization’s shares have increased by almost 60%, and the market capitalization reached $235 billion (Ponciano). As a result, COVID-19 has undoubtedly had a positive impact on Netflix’s growth.
There were several additional factors that contributed to Netflix’s success during the pandemic. For instance, the U.S. dollar got stronger in 2020, and it allowed Netflix to implement clever marketing strategies globally (Bursztynsky). The company reduced the subscription price in Brazil from $8.50 to $6.50 and obtained many new subscribers due to this flexible pricing (Bursztynsky). Moreover, Netflix could implement the same policies in any country that is dependent on the U.S. dollar currency exchange rate. In summary, it allowed the company to expand its international presence and increase its subscriber base.
However, there were also several barriers that prevented Netflix from reaching even higher revenue growth. The major drawback was the pause in movie and TV series production due to restrictions (Bursztynsky). The company had to cancel or delay some of its projects that fans eagerly awaited. It slightly damaged Netflix’s reputation, but the company still had a large variety of shows for its viewers. Additionally, Netflix reported an expected decrease in user growth by the end of the pandemic restrictions (Ha). This tendency was inevitable because people started to spend more time outside of their homes, and daily life was returning to normal. In summary, Netflix significantly grew its subscriber base during the pandemic restrictions, and there were nearly 200 million subscribers by the end of the quarantine.
Guilty Pleasure or Self-Care
Consequently, it is essential to understand the direct effects of Netflix on people’s mental health during the pandemic restrictions. After all, even if everyone is watching Netflix, it does not necessarily mean that it is good for their health. For instance, one could perceive this behavior as a mind-numbing opiate for the masses to distract people from real troubles. While the media can achieve this objective as well, the current paper argues that watching Netflix during quarantine is better described as self-care rather than a guilty pleasure.
Hence, the second argument that supports the essay’s position is the positive impact of watching Netflix on people’s mental health during COVID-19. The research proves this position and states that binge-watching is an effective method of feeling better during the quarantine (Swartvagher). For instance, a recent poll revealed that more than 50% of people agreed that watching TV shows had a positive impact on their mental health during the pandemic restrictions (Swartvagher). For comparison, the same people listed socializing (48%) and eating/drinking (43%) as slightly less effective methods of self-care (Swartvagher). These findings show that watching Netflix positively affected a lot of people during the pandemic.
Some of the benefits for mental health include a lesser degree of anxiety, isolation, and uncertainty. Moreover, the pandemic significantly affected the level of mental health globally. The research suggests that the average rates of depression increased by 24%, anxiety by 26%, and worsened sleep quality by 34% (Boursier et al.). The same study found that binge-watching of Netflix and other TV series significantly reduced these numbers (Boursier et al.). As a result, the authors concluded that this behavior is an effective adapting coping strategy that improves people’s overall mental health (Boursier et al.). However, it is critical to note that not every show has the same positive impact on viewers.
Relevant Topics and Enrichment Movies on Netflix
Lastly, the third argument for Netflix as a saving grace is the large number of socially relevant shows and enrichment movies on the platform. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, not every TV series is equally beneficial for viewers. For instance, Boursier et al. found that enrichment movies that are thought-provoking and emotionally pleasing have a much more beneficial effect on viewers. On the other hand, binge-watching reality TV shows can have a detrimental impact on people’s mental health due to their addictiveness and emphasis on social drama (Boursier et al.). It means that although watching TV during the quarantine generally has a positive effect on mental health, viewers should carefully choose what they will watch.
Netflix is a good option for binge-watching and improving people’s mental health because it promotes relevant TV series and enrichment movies. Moreover, it presents many projects and documentaries that provide valuable information about history, geography, and politics. In addition to enrichment movies, Tanya Horeck notes that Netflix is openly broadcasting socially relevant films. For instance, when George Floyd was murdered in early 2020, Netflix aired documentaries about this case showing how systematic racism can lead to disastrous consequences (Horeck). In this sense, Netflix helps people follow socially relevant news and understand more about the world. Although some of the issues might be more relevant to the United States, Netflix has a large variety of shows that people from other parts of the world might find enriching and fascinating.
Conclusion
COVID-19 has significantly decreased the quality of life for millions of people due to health risks and associated restrictions. As a result, many people had to stay at home, with TV being one of the main forms of entertainment. In this sense, Netflix was a saving grace for many individuals who might have felt lonely and depressed during the quarantine. The current essay has presented three arguments to prove this position: Netflix’s growth, positive impact on mental health, and a large variety of enrichment TV series and movies. In summary, Netflix not only presents an accessible form of entertainment but also provides multiple benefits. It was the primary communication instrument between many people in the quarantine and the world around them. In summary, Netflix provided entertainment, psychological help, and education for millions of people who had to stay at home during COVID-19.
Works Cited
Boursier, Valentina, et al. “Is Watching TV Series an Adaptive Coping Strategy During the COVID-19 Pandemic? Insights From an Italian Community Sample.” Frontiers in Psychiatry, vol. 12, 2021. Web.
Bursztynsky, Jessica. “Netflix Says These Three Effects of the Coronavirus Crisis Are Impacting Its Business.” CNBC, Web.
Ha, Anthony. “Netflix User Growth Slows as Production Ramps Up Again.” Tech Crunch, Web.
Horeck, Tanya. “Netflix and Heal: The Shifting Meanings of Binge-Watching During the COVID-19 Crisis.” Film Quarterly, vol. 75, no. 1, 2021, pp. 35-40. Web.
Swartvagher, Jennifer. “Study Shows Streaming Services Help Improve Mental Health.” Tinybeans, Web.
Ponciano, Jonathan. “5 Big Numbers That Show Netflix’s Massive Growth Continues During the Coronavirus Pandemic.” Forbes, Web.