Sometimes there's nothing better than binge-watching a series. But, if we're committing hours and hours of our lives to streaming something, do we really need to worry about a few seconds? From Netflix to BBC iPlayer, all the apps now offer the chance to skip the titles, skip the credits, and automatically play the next episode. But at what cost?
Let's take the credits first. These are the talented people whose jobs have yet to be replaced by AI, whose hard work made the programme you're enjoying. This is the record of their contribution. It's now far too easy to skip this important demonstration of just how many real, human beings it takes to make good films and television.
Secondly, is it healthy for our attention spans that streaming apps presume we cannot be unstimulated for more than a few seconds? Only this week, the European Union has forced Meta to remove endless scrolling from its social media platforms because of its addictiveness. It's the same for streaming.
Lastly, you're missing out on the title sequence. Admittedly not always, but often, great care and attention has been taken to produce a work of art that sets the scene for a series. Many now don't even show the title sequence in the first episode, opting for a cold open. So if you're already hitting skip when the second episode plays, you might never even see it.
If you want to give it a go, you can switch off skipping and autoplay in BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Now TV, and Amazon Prime Video. On Disney+, you'll find the autoplay settings hidden in "Edit Profiles", where they are user-specific. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be possible in ITV X, so you'll have to use the old-fashioned method of hitting the back button.
When Gandhi spoke to say that "There is more to life than increasing its speed" he probably would not contemplate that so many people in the future would seek to shave seconds off something that they are enjoying. 2026 is the year for being more considered in the way we consume media, especially over the internet. Your future attention span will thank you.
Part of Paperweight's 'Greater Things' series; #1001 ways to live your life greater. Get it delivered to your inbox every week with Sunday Paperweight when you subscribe for free.
