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in collaboration with
Amélie Boukhobza (Clinical Psychologist)
As soon as night falls, you binge-watch Netflix episodes without being able to stop? With the help of Amélie Boukhobza, clinical psychologist, we decipher the reasons that explain this growing craze for series.
Squid Game, Bridgerton, My Little Reindeer, Lupin, Wednesday, You, Fiasco, En place… There’s never a shortage of captivating series on Netflix. So much so that it’s becoming difficult to get away from them. What’s the recipe for their success? Why can’t we do without them anymore? Analysis.
Netflix multiplies genres
Historical fiction, thriller, funny or dramatic series, adaptation of true stories, comedies… Like Disney+, Prime Video and even Canal+, the streaming platform multiplies the genres in terms of series.
“They are very well adapted to contemporary issues and allow us to find our way, identify with them and answer many of our questions,” acknowledges Amélie Boukhobza, clinical psychologist.
A massive argument for the American giant, which had already announced, in January 2024, having experienced “strong growth in its revenues” and a “record subscriber gain” in the fourth quarter; results not seen since 2020.
A leading position, which he confirmed throughout 2024 thanks to successful series: The Bridgerton Chronicle, The 8 Show, Fiasco, Jurassic World: Chaos Theory, My Little Reindeer, Ashley Madison… and his meticulous selection of star actors (Regé-Jean Page, François Civil…).
These are flawless choices for this company created in Scotts Valley in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph, even if its taste for progressivism tends to irritate generation Z (the streaming platform multiplies the LGBT or ethnic minority characters in its series and ends up being accused of “doing too much”).
Feeling good in your body, feeling good in your head!
The Netflix virus: a well-oiled addiction
In the age of streaming, Netflix has become much more than just an entertainment platform. It has infiltrated our lives to the point of becoming our best companion; affecting our social relationships and even our mental health.
The rise of screens in our beds has caused the number of sexual relations between the French to fall, according to a Ifop survey produced for the Lelo observatory of French sexuality.
And for good reason: thanks to its sophisticated algorithms, the platform suggests series adapted to our tastes, encouraging us to watch episodes one after the other. The concept of binge-watching (watching several episodes of a series in a row) has become the norm, amplifying this feeling of never wanting to stop.
Netflix knows how to tickle our curiosity; while activating the reward circuit (which results in the release of dopamine in our brain, the chemical messenger of pleasure).
“Netflix is more than just a hobby, it’s a psychological and social phenomenon“, says Amélie Boukhobza.”Series are designed to captivate: the short, fast-paced format, with cliffhangers in each episode, perfectly suits our pace of life where everything has to go quickly. They create regular meetings with characters to whom we become deeply attached. For many, it is almost a silent companion in an often solitary life, and easy to consume in a society where people rarely go out and live more in virtuality than in reality”, explains the psychologist, in conclusion.
To get out of this vicious circle, becoming aware of your excessive consumption is the first step. Then, setting clear viewing limits (1 hour per day) can be a solution.
Slideshow: 15 Netflix Movies to Watch as a Family