UK Edition
Three people treated for 'binge watching' addiction to TV in first cases of their kind in Britain
Three people have been treated for “binge watching addiction” to television box sets in the first reported cases of their kind in Britain, The Telegraph can reveal.
The patients sought help at a Harley Street clinic after admitting that Netflix and other on-demand television services had taken over their lives.
One man aged 35 admitted his job had been put at risk by his compulsion to watch crime shows for up to seven hours every day.
Each sufferer was offered counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy to conquer their obsession with box sets. Last night, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy said it was aware of the problem and urged other sufferers to seek treatment.
Viewing habits are increasingly dominated by on-demand streaming services, the popularity of which led Netflix to claim 34 Golden Globe nominations at last night’s awards, including four for its British series The Crown.
More than 150 million people now have a Netflix subscription and the technology has led to the rise of “binge-watching”.
Adam Cox, a registered psychotherapist, treated three patients at his Harley Street clinic last year after they developed an unhealthy addiction to providers such as Netflix, Now TV and Amazon Prime. The cases are the first documented in this country.
“All three had fallen into a dangerous loop where they felt unable to switch off,” he said.
“They just had to watch the next episode, and the one after that and the one after that.
“A TV cliffhanger is a reward mechanism – like drink or drugs. It releases dopamine, and that can be an issue for people who have other stresses or anxieties in their life. It causes lack of sleep, which sends productivity through the floor, and stops people forming proper relationships.”
Mr Cox said the US series Breaking Bad sent one 35-year-old London man spiralling into Netflix addiction. After devouring three seasons, he moved on to the true crime documentary Making A Murderer. Soon he was watching crime shows and action movies for seven hours a day.
“He would watch until he was too exhausted to keep his eyes open, finally falling asleep around 4am,” Mr Cox said.
The man’s work began to suffer and he was soon in fear for his job. He was single and his TV obsession meant any relationship was out of the question.
Mr Cox treated the patient with counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy.
Netflix has made no secret of its ambition to get people hooked on its shows. Reed Hastings, Netflix’s CEO, famously said in 2017 that he viewed “sleep” as the service’s main competitor.
British adults now spend two hours a week on average watching Netflix, Ofcom figures show. That soars to four or more hours a week for those aged 18-34, who now spend more time watching Netflix and YouTube than traditional television.
The BBC is also part of the streaming revolution. The Christmas special of Gavin & Stacey was watched by 17.1 million people. Its biggest shows include Line of Duty, Luther and Bodyguard, while shows such as Killing Eve, Fleabag and Peaky Blinders have attracted millions of viewers who watch episodes back-to-back.
Last year the NHS said it would be opening the first clinic for computer gaming addiction after the condition was recognised as a disorder by the World Health Organisation.
Addiction to television, however, is not yet recognised and does not qualify for NHS treatment.
Hilda Burke, a registered psychotherapist, treated two clients who successfully overcame their Netflix addictions.
She said: “In the old days you had the discipline of having to wait a week for the next episode. Now it’s instant gratification.
“Most people can ignore the impulse to keep watching. But some can’t control themselves, especially when they can watch on their mobile devices. They can’t escape. I find it quite concerning that Netflix are trying to colonise people’s lives in that way.”
Netflix has declined to comment. Insiders, however, have defended the streaming giant’s decision to offer viewers maximum control over what they want to watch, and for how long.