The Example of Netflix as a Digital Distraction - Research Paper Example

s s Distraction implies the engagement in any activity which isn`t either considered productive in the of natural routine, or which may cause the individual to indulge in behavior otherwise not sought essential. For instance, sparing an hour of the day into music or gossiping with your friends may not be deemed desirable, since the time can also be used to concentrate on work, finish the homework, complete some house chores or other similar activities. Now, in this context the question arises regarding whether or not these distractions lead towards destruction, or in another case lead towards constructive behavioral patterns. There are differing view on the subject where a few argue that distractions are quite unhealthy for humans and must be avoided to pertain one`s focus, however, others argue that what makes the humans different from robots are these distractions which turn out to play the role of replenishing the humans out of their dull busy routines. In this context, Freud may be quoted, since he is considered to be the father of psychoanalysis. He was of the view that human happiness is concerned with avoiding pain and pursuing pleasures; and the best way to achieve that is through distractions. These distractions may be perceived as a vacation away from routine, some refreshing music, a movie, venting out with peers, talking a long walk or other activities which may take one`s mind off from the routine. Nowadays, with the incorporation of technology in almost every aspect of social life, especially with the advent of digital media, distraction is more often being considered as divulgence in the digital life. For this reason, the paper will use Netflix as a positive distraction to expand upon the significance of Netflix as an aspect of life which isn`t just undeniable, rather proves to be quite healthy for the human body. In this context, it is crucial to understand distractions in general and their placement in the human behavioral patterns. Distraction can actually be quite a useful tool once an individual is off to the baseline. Especially when distressful situations are at play, one must converge towards distractions in an attempt to avoid permanent damage to the system. The tools which the psychologists recommend in such a scenario are related towards positive reflections, body sensations, bringing a change in one`s routine and divulging in constructively distracting behavior. However, distraction must not be confused with meaningless endeavors for long intervals. Rather, distraction by virtue of arts and crafts, long baths, adopting new hobbies and other similar activities are few excellent choices for distraction which can turn out to be quite constructive as well (Wilde 21-22). Also, Frued (70) states that distraction can be the highest form of the exhibition of super-ego which suppresses one`s desires to inflict aggression and avoid violence. Thus, in a few situations, it would also be quite helpful to vent out the stress in front of a trusted companion, as that also helps peace up the mind and distress the individual. Thus, if utilized strategically and effectively, distraction may not lead towards destructive attitude and loss of focus, rather it may actually turn out to re-gain once lost focus. To further understand the pretext of the issue, let`s consider the example of Netflix as a digital distraction. Netflix is an American medium which offers on-demand video streaming via internet, mostly for views in North America as well as South America, also in the Caribbean and a few states in the Europe. Another innovative feature added to their services includes DVD mailing services by Permit Reply Mail. Netflix was established back in 1997 with its headquarters based in California. By 2009 it went as far as offering around 100,000 DVD titles and its subscribers base had already expanded to about 10 million. By the fourth quarter of 2012, Netflix had already acquired around 29.4 million online streaming customers (Boers 13-16). This year, Netflix was also nominated for an Academy Award for one of its original productions (Netflix Inc). Such an expansive customers base along with a massive fan following which led towards such inflated profits reveal the fact that this particular distraction has yielded quite a popularity in a short span of time. If it were as destructive as it is being sought by a few, it would have eventually reached a saturation point, however that doesn’t seem to be the case. As a counterargument to the perception that Netflix leads towards destructive behavior and is a negative distraction for humans, many logical perspectives can be presented. As much as one may consider it as a source of procrastination, the case in reality may be the other way around. Any episode of a particular season, for instance, if otherwise watched on a TV, that would lead towards a lot of wastage of time (Roebok 41). Firstly, one would have to schedule for the particular episode and juggle the routine accordingly, which would already take up some time. Also, the TV commercial wouldn’t just spoil the curiosity and turn out to be a waste of time, rather disturbances on intervals may disrupt the relaxing pattern of an individual. Assumedly, if an individual is indulged in a comedy serial and the distressed mind is finally getting a break from the day`s struggle, an advert in the middle may completely change the mood and ambience of the situation. Also, adding the perspectives of Freud (18) in this context, the ego which has been sub-consciously embedded in an individual`s psyche will also seek for outlets to relief from the stress. Thus, in such a scenario, Netflix is quite a save of time, also helps in relaxing the temperament of a distressed individual, for which it can be considered as a constructive distraction. Similarly, in the sense of accessibility, Netflix can also be attributed as a constructive distraction. Though other forms of distractions are also crucially significant in the current pretext of social life, yet the range of options and the ease of engagement are impeccable on Netflix. One needs to indulge in pleasure to avoid pain and seek pleasure, yet while acquiring other modes of pleasure, one may find himself in the pain of running out of options, or relying on outdated modes of entertainment. A television set may contain diverse range of channels, yet one may not find anything worthy to watch which at the same time suits the needs and moods. Thus, the entire effort turns out to be a waste, and the nothing meaningful is reaped out of the distraction. Netflix can be reached with a laptop and a reliable internet connection, where thousands of options are available. A sports enthusiast may indulge in an adventurous show, while a drama geek may turn towards some interesting soaps, a distressed soul can switch towards a comedy show and someone interested in seeking knowledge may load some informative documentaries. Also, if a person is confused about choices, Netflix also gives recommendations based on previous choices which again makes life much easier, and makes it a convenient distraction (Ameto 61). Furthermore, more than just a constructive distraction, Netflix may also be a life-boat for someone to stay connected and updated with the world. The flavors of the digital world aren’t just confined to the digital circle, rather the benefits extend to the social life as well. A weaker social life leads towards a deceased self esteem and distress, as opposed to a healthy social life which generally keeps the human healthier (Wilde 9). With the enhancement in engagement to seasons, documentaries and TV serials, staying updated with the networks has become a necessity. It doesn’t just serve the curiosity juices of the human mind, rather gives him topics and subjects to talk about with the peers. In the other case, one would be left behind, rather feels left out of a conversation. It is always healthy to express one`s opinions and debate about it with the peers as it helps replenish one`s mind and also gives food for thought. Thus, in this context, Netflix is an excellent medium to utilize one`s time in achieving multiple objectives at the same time. In this discussion regarding Netflix as a medium of distraction, the deceptive patterns inhibited by the brain by virtue of this medium must not be ignored. Irrespective of an individual`s current state, be it in his student life, professional life, married life or any other status he`s in, the odds of avoiding stress or a difficult situation are quite low. This implies that in this world, one may never come across a situation where he is at peace with everything. In such a situation, luring the brain and deceiving it off the stress and convincing it that everything is in control may turn out to be a daunting task. In the other scenario, one may completely get stuck in a state of mind where depression or other psychological disorder takes over. To avoid such a situation, Netflix can be considered as an easy yet convenient fix. One may turn towards a pleasant season, or an interesting episode of thriller to take the mind off the stress. Though the stress would still be the same, yet the mind would be deceived to rather think that situation is under control (Ameto 51-52). Thus, anyone looking for a change in the psychological makeup or for taking a break from the routine can use Netflix for various reasons all at once. Online streaming is yet another feature of Netflix which makes it a desirable yet a necessary distraction. It is a known fact that one may never achieve success in acquiring all the knowledge from various mediums all at once. Also, due to time difference in various zones, or issues with free dissemination of context can quite conveniently be resolved via Netflix (Wilde 14). Also, the idea that one needs to be at a specific time on a specific place to catch a stream is now outdated, as Netflix covers the streams for all the people who don`t want to miss out on their streams. For instance, a political analyst in the United States of America is interested in an elections stream going on in Israel, Netflix would prove to be the fix of the situation. Similarly, various podcasts, concerts, an online seminar or other similar activities can be caught online quite conveniently via Netflix. Thus, Netflix has contributed towards innovation in the field of information dissemination by adding the element of convenience to it. In this context, Netflix is certainly a distraction one must prefer having if he doesn’t want to miss out on the technological innovations. In addition, Netflix allows the individuals to relate themselves to the content they`re watching, which is yet again satisfying for the ego of the human. As mentioned above, Netflix also offers a feature where recommendations can be made to relate to the taste and personal affiliations of a human. Thus, whenever a person attempts to stream content on Netflix closer to the taste, chances are that the content would somehow be familiar for the user at least to some extent. For instance, sitcoms in general often exhibit a situation where relationship issues are discussed or rather dealt with. In such a scenario, chances are that at least one of the situations or character would be one to which the user can relate. This would develop a sense of satisfaction for the individual, where a personal affiliation would be developed with a TV show or a particular character (Ameto 41-42). The fan following trends and obsession with characters and TV shows exhibit such patterns. Thus, again, Netflix can prove to be quite a positive distraction where one could find affiliation and satisfy one`s ego as well. The discussion can also be related to Freud`s idea of Civilization and its discontents, where he tends to explain the concept of happiness, and how the human race perceives and embraces the idea of happiness. Freud envisioned the civilization to be based on the presumption that people are driven by the idea of seeking pleasure, also by the constraints imposed by society and its outcasts. In this context, happiness can be related to the attainment of pleasure which can be related to marriage, customs but most importantly, social stability. Also, he states the solution to the issues embedded in the society, i.e. via indulgence in socially viable activities, i.e. arts, commerce, politics etc. Furthermore, Freud elaborates that happiness is mostly at odd with the routinized and the orderly life one wishes to endure, and instead every individual possesses an inherent urge to find pleasure which satisfies them in different ways (Freud 81-83). In this context, distractions can be considered as important elements in attaining a happy life. The routine and the order only decrease the element of happiness in one`s life, as it implies that the humans are just pertaining to the activities in order to fulfill the needs. However, to indulge in happiness, it is crucial to divert from the routine and engage in activities which may be sought as distractions. Thus, in such a case, even Freud would have endorsed Netflix as a distraction which increases the pleasure principal and tends to decrease the element of pain in an individual. In this context, a deeper analysis of Freud`s idea of how humans perceive pleasure and pain can further pertain to strengthening the argument at hand. Freud (11-12) quotes an example of one of his colleagues who has an ‘oceanic’ feeling which he deems as a subjective one. Freud himself can`t relate to the experience as he hasn`t had such a feeling, yet he doesn’t generally allow the existence of such a feeling in his subjects. In order to experience the feeling scientifically, he suggests that there aren’t any physiological signs leading to such a sensation, thus a psychoanalytical reason must pertain Thus, he perceives that ego is the content which maintains a boundary line between sharp and clear lines with the outside world. It is only when the ego is inflated to the extent of love does it allow the boundary to become comparatively permeable. In the opposite case, the ego has a natural tendency to detach itself from the displeasure of the world outside and throw these negative feelings outside. Therefore, the distinction between the inside and the outside world is critical in developing the psychology of a being and making the ego recognizes how a reality is different from itself. At a premature stage, the ego has a boundary-less sense of world, however, the sense of reality shrinks when the ego delimits itself. Thus, whenever the human mind diverges itself to a distraction, the same phenomenon is at play, and the ego rather goes to the pre-mature stage where it is permeable, where positive feelings are associated with the outside world. Thus, Netflix, in this context, proves to be a positive distraction. Thus, conclusively, distraction implies the engagement in any activity which isn`t either considered productive in the course of one`s natural routine, or which may cause the individual to indulge in behavior otherwise not sought essential. For instance, giving atleast an hour of the day to music or socializing with your friends may not be deemed desirable, since the time can also be used to concentrate on work, finish the homework, and complete some house chores or other similar activities. Now, in this context there is an ongoing debate regarding whether or not these distractions lead towards destructive behavior, or in another case lead towards constructive behavioral patterns. There are opposing views on the issue where a few are of the view that distractions are quite unhealthy for humans and must be avoided to pertain one`s focus, however, others argue that what makes the humans different from robots are these distractions which turn out to play the role of replenishing the humans out of their dull busy routines. In this context, Freud can also be referred to, since he is considered to be the father of psychoanalysis. He was of the view that human happiness is concerned with avoiding pain and pursuing pleasures; and the best way to achieve that is through distractions. Nowadays, with the incorporation of technology in almost every aspect of social life, especially with the advent of digital media, distraction is more often being considered as divulgence in the digital life. For this reason, Netflix can be considered as a positive distraction to expand upon the significance of Netflix as a distraction which is currently playing quite a positive and a crucially constructive role in people`s life. Works Cited: Amento, Brian, Chris Harrison, Mukesh Nathan, and Loren Terveen. "Asynchronous Communication Fostering Social Interaction with Collaboratv." (2010). Print. Boers, Arthur. Living into Focus: Choosing What Matters in an Age of Distractions. Grand Rapids: Baker Pub. Group, 2013. Print. Freud, Sigmund. Civilization and Its Discontents. New York: W.W. Norton, 1962. Print. Netflix Inc. Swot Analysis. Paul # 011 44 161 238 4056: Datamonitor Plc, n.d.. Internet resource. Roebuck, Kevin. Netflix: High-impact Strategies - What You Need to Know: Definitions, Adoptions, Impact, Benefits, Maturity, Vendors. Dayboro: Emereo Pub, 2012. Internet resource. Wilde, Michael. Welcome Distractions. Minneapolis: Publish Green, 2013. Internet resource. Read More