The Voices
In the modern era, content is everywhere. It’s on phones, computers, billboards, subway signs, and as expected, still flourishes on the television at home. Screens of all shapes and sizes are simply a vessel for audiences to consume as much content as possible in any given day. While the jury is still undecided on whether or not this content is irrevocably bad for our health and attention spans, content consumption does have one shimmering quality that we can all agree on…
Content is entertaining!
Audiences want to be entertained in some way. Ultimately, the goal of most content creators is to make something that people want to look at, listen to, or be a part of. And like art in all forms, content evolves with the audience’s preferences and habits. The modern audience has changed a lot over the last decade, imbibing second-screen viewership and putting on TV shows as background noise to fill the void in the house. Because of this habitual change, TV has fundamentally split its audience into two quintessential categories: Active and passive viewers.
While there are still cinematic masterpieces that come out regularly for the cinephiles, streaming services always keep a steady supply of tried-and-true favorites for the background users. Re-runs of sitcom favorites, random nature documentaries, reality TV, and Hallmark movies are some of the most streamed categories. Why? Because passive content consumers are Netflix’s best customers. They are loyal, they are compliant, and they will reliably stream Friends for the 100th time, simply to fill their apartment with the sound of human voices as they fight back the loneliness of silence.
Laugh tracks aside, psychologists agree that this kind of escapism can be beneficial. Psychologists and researchers at the University of North Texas say, “the consumption of media allows individuals to temporarily forget the stresses and anxieties of their current situation, fostering a sense of social bonding and emotional relief.” Coming from a family that always left the TV on, I would argue that a little background noise never hurt anybody.
There may be moments in life when a person feels ready to tackle their inner demons, meditating alone in the silence, but that’s never going to be on a random Thursday after a hard day of work. On mentally rough days, the comfort of commotion is a welcome distraction, and passive content provides that relief without the stress of choice.
Constant Content Commotion
Modern society lives a noisy life, and despite days that are filled with a constant inundation of information, news, opinions, and daily cat memes, people have grown accustomed to a certain level of stimulation. Dipping below a simmer of chaos, the discomfort grows and the only escape is to battle the silence with comforting content, which often unconsciously replicates the safety of the social construct. “Silence often triggers anxiety and overthinking,” says psychologist Michele Leno Ph.D. “In our fast-paced, hyperconnected world, silence can feel unnatural.” While they make dinner, tidy the house, and do their laundry, viewers can ease into the comfort of crafted conversations and ambient sound. Unsurprisingly, the only place you can truly exist in total silence is in the wilderness, and speaking from recent experiences, that can be troubling as well.
Recently, I spent some time away from the big city. After spending several nights camping in the solitude of the desert, my nightly routine of watching a show with my mobile Internet became a refreshing escape. Although I love the outdoors and I adore antisocialness, I am a city girl at heart and have spent my life amidst the constant flood of content. While it was surreal and sort of mysterious, complete silence of solitude is actually really creepy. That feeling of loneliness and isolation can be overpowering to newbies like me and, as Michele Leno Ph.D. points out, prolonged exposure to silence can trigger hyperawareness, self-criticism, and in some cases, a fight or flight response. So while my excursion into solitude was entirely voluntary, I refused to completely succumb to the void, enjoying my silly little shows, and consuming my comfort content throughout my solo journey.
Me and my dog Murphy scouring a truly people-free zone in Cochise, AZ
Hello Darkness My Old Friend
Over the years, passive content consumption has earned its place in the coping repertoire of modern humanity, particularly to fight the big scaries of being completely alone. Rather than stewing in negativity and spiraling out of control, lighthearted content helps people evade overwhelming moments and gives audiences a chance to distance themselves from the woes of everyday life.
Naturally, content consumption is all about balance. So while using podcasts, music, and shows as a crutch to escape everyday thoughts is totally natural, it’s important to moderate it like any other indulgence. At one point, everyone must take a look inward instead of attempting to outrun their problems. But until you’re ready to face that inevitability, just let Netflix autoplay the next episode of your favorite season of Parks and Rec while you sit and scroll on your phone.
Via u/females