Is Netflix Impairing Cognitive Function?

of “Bridgerton” or “Squid Game” could be better spent dusting up on your Dostoevsky. I mean: is Netflix dumbing down the dialogue and storytelling in its films and TV shows to suit an audience it knows is barely paying attention?

Take “Stranger Things,” for example. This nostalgic Netflix series started off strong in 2016, paying homage to 80s classics like Stephen King novels and Steven Spielberg movies. But over the years, it seemed to lose its way. What was once visually captivating turned into characters endlessly explaining their every move and rehashing plot points we’ve already seen.

But “Stranger Things” isn’t the only culprit. Spend some time browsing through Netflix originals and you’ll notice a pattern: characters constantly describing what they’re up to, just in case you weren’t paying full attention. It’s like they’re shouting, “Hey, remember this? Pay attention!”

This isn’t just a random occurrence. It’s all part of a master plan. When Matt Damon was working on his Netflix cop thriller with Ben Affleck, Netflix advised them to simplify the dialogue so that viewers scrolling through Instagram could still follow along. It’s all about accommodating the distracted viewer who’s multitasking while watching.

This might explain why so many Netflix shows and movies are starting to feel the same. The bright but low-contrast lighting, the compressed sound mixes—it’s all tailored to be easily digestible on a small screen while you’re on the go. It’s like the “elevator music” of television, just background noise while you’re doing something more important.

But not all hope is lost. Shows like “Adolescence” and “KPop Demon Hunters” have proven that demanding more attention from viewers can pay off. These stories challenge us to pay closer attention and engage with the content, rather than mindlessly letting it play in the background.

In the end, it’s up to us as viewers to decide what kind of content we want to support. Will we keep letting Netflix spoon-feed us easily forgettable stories, or will we demand more engaging and thought-provoking content? The choice is ours to make.