Binge-watching | Pros, Cons, Debate, Arguments, Television, Streaming Media, & Digital Addiction | Britannica

Binge-watching: Overview and History

The term "binge-watch" was first recorded in 2003, but the practice gained widespread popularity in 2013. This was after Netflix released all 13 episodes of the first season of House of Cards simultaneously, rather than the traditional weekly episode release. This shift marked the beginning of a new era in streaming content viewing.

Popularity and Usage Growth

In 2015, the Collins English Dictionary named "binge-watch" the word of the year, noting a 200% increase in its use compared to the previous year.

The coronavirus pandemic in 2020 caused a significant rise in binge-watching. For example, HBO reported a 65% increase in subscribers watching three or more episodes consecutively starting from March 14, 2020, coinciding with stay-at-home orders across many states.

Statistics on Binge-watching

Reasons for Ending Sessions

The most common reasons people stopped binge-watching were exhaustion or the need for sleep, followed by finishing a season of a show.

"Binge-watch was declared the word of the year by Collins English Dictionary, which said that use of the term had increased 200 percent over the prior year."
"HBO saw a 65 percent jump in subscribers watching three or more episodes in a row starting on Mar. 14, 2020, about the time when many states implemented stay-at-home measures to slow the spread of COVID-19."

Author's summary: Binge-watching has evolved into a mainstream viewing habit, with major streaming platforms and Generation Z driving its widespread monthly and daily consumption.

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Britannica Britannica — 2025-11-06

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