23 Binge-Watching Statistics You Should Know in 2022 | Soocial (2023)

“Just one more episode” is what usually leads to staying up all night and watching a compelling TV show. What’s more, Binge-watching has become pretty popular, especially among younger generations.

Still, although it seems harmless, watching video content in one sitting can easily lead to addiction, depression, anxiety, or even early death.

Take a look at the binge-watching statistics we’ve compiled for you to find out how prevalent binge-watching really is, what age group consumes video content the most, as well as the pros and cons of binge-watching.

Binge-Watching Statistics (Editor’s Choice)

• 37% of Netflix subscribers binge-watched series at work.
• Watching between two and six episodes at once is considered binge-watching.
• 70% of Americans aged between 30 and 44 often binge-watch TV shows or films.
• 90% of millennials and members of Generation Z binge-watch.
• 52% of all adult TV watchers stayed awake all night in order to watch a show.
• 20% of binge-watchers are obese or overweight.
• 80% of adults see binge-watching as relaxing.
• 1.9% of males reported binge-watching online series for over ten hours in one sitting.

General Binge-Watching Facts, Stats, and Trends

1. Watching between two and six episodes in one sitting is considered binge-watching.

(PR Newswire)

Binge-watching is a relatively new phenomenon, and it’s connected to the increase in the popularity of various streaming platforms, such as HBO Go, Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Hulu.

Since the whole seasons of TV shows are usually available at once, there’s a high possibility of watching it in one sitting. It’s important to mention that, there are more binge-watching definitions, but they’re all similar.

2. 37% of Netflix users have binge-watched at work.

(Mashable)

Netflix binge-watching stats from a 2017 survey revealed that, apart from those who binge-watch at work, 27% of subscribers binge-watched while waiting in line and 12% used the streaming service in a public bathroom. Furthermore, a staggering 67% used Netflix when they weren’t at home.

3. During quarantine, 26.8% of Americans spent countless hours streaming kids’ shows with their children.

(Sykes)

According to binge-watching statistics from 2021, the number of Netflix subscribers during quarantine has increased, as well as its revenue. Still, one of the worrying facts is that so many children spent endless hours in front of the TV screens during that period.

4. Broadcast and streaming account for 55% of users’ television time.

(Nielsen)

Television statistics from 2021 point out that streaming and broadcast account for 55% of users’ television time. We should take into consideration that many people spend too much time binge-watching content on streaming services. That means that the rates of TV binge-watching are even higher than we think.

5. 51% of adults binge-watched the same series more than once.

(Morning Consult)

It seems that some people enjoy watching series over and over again. Generation Z and millennials are most likely to binge-watch the same online series more than once. More precisely, 71% of those aged between 18 and 21 and 64% of millennials did so.

Binge-Watching Demographics

6. 70% of Americans aged 30 to 44 often binge-watch TV shows or films.

(Statista)

Statista’s data from 2020 revealed that 70% of those aged 30 to 44 often watch TV shows or movies in one sitting. However, 69% of people aged between 18 and 29 reported doing the same.

Interestingly, even people aged 65 and over are prone to binge-watching, as 41% of respondents of this age confirmed that they frequently watch movies or TV shows back to back.

7. 73 percent of Americans admit to binge-watching video content.

(Deloitte)

It’s true. With so much video on the internet, it’s easy to fall down a rabbit hole of cat videos. Or Batman fan films. Or whatever else tickles your fancy.

One of the fun facts about binge-watching in the US is that the average binge lasts three hours and eight minutes. That doesn’t seem like a lot. However, other statistics point out that many people (especially younger people) binge-watch regularly.

8. 38% of Americans watched at least three hours of content on weekdays during quarantine.

(Sykes)

A Sykes survey from 2021 found that 48% of Americans watched three or more hours of content on weekends, while 38% did so on weekdays during quarantine. That’s a minimum of 45 days of streaming per year.

9. 90% of millennials and members of Generation Z admit to binge-watching.

(Deloitte)

The Millennial and Generation Z binge-watching rates are relatively worrying, as 90% tend to binge-watch movies and TV shows. Also, 40% of the same age groups binge-watch approximately six episodes of television on a weekly basis, which amounts to around five hours of content.

10. 59% of Baby Boomers watch TV for more than ten hours per week.

(Ipsos)

When watching TV is in question, Baby Boomers watch TV more than other age groups. Statistics from 2021 indicate that almost 60% of Baby Boomers watch TV for over ten hours every week, while only 17% of Generation Z and 26% of Millennials do the same.

11. 26% of those aged 18 to 29 binge-watch TV every day.

(Morning Consult)

According to the statistics on binge-watching TV, 60% of those aged between 18 and 29 binge-watch either every day or several times per week. On the contrary, only 4% watch video content in succession less than once per month.

12. As of April 2020, 49% of binge-viewers in the US were female.

(Statista)

According to Statista’s report, almost 50% of binge-watchers were female as of April 2020, as opposed to 49% males, meaning that women are more likely to watch TV shows or movies in one sitting.

Statistics on Binge-Watching and Its Harmful Effects

13. 52% of all adult TV watchers stayed awake all night to watch a show.

(Morning Consult)

Pulling an all-nighter is harmful to our health and can mess up our sleep schedule quite easily. Nevertheless, more than 50% of survey respondents stated that they sacrificed their sleep in order to watch a show.

Furthermore, even 18% of those aged 65 or over said they did this. In addition, 86% of respondents stayed past their typical bedtime to binge-watch.

14. 57% of college students stayed up all night to watch a show.

(Daily Toreador)

Many student binge-watching trends point out that more than half of college students are likely to stay awake all night to binge-watch. However, lack of sleep can hinder their academic performance and lead to lower grades or even withdrawal from courses.

15. 45% of young adults aged 18 to 29 canceled their social plans to watch a TV show.

(Morning Consult)

According to binge-watching addiction statistics based on a Morning Consultant’s 2018 survey, 24% of all adult respondents said they prioritized watching a show rather than socializing and spending time with their friends and family. That can lead to loneliness and isolation.

16. 85% of binge-watchers eat fruit and vegetables less than once a day.

(BYU)

There’s a strong connection between binge-watching and an unhealthy lifestyle. In other words, binge-watchers tend to have less healthy diets and exercise less. For instance, a staggering 88% eat out at least once a week, while 20% are either obese or overweight.

17. One-third of UK survey respondents experienced mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and loneliness after finishing a TV series.

(NCBI)

Statistics on binge-watching and depression based on a survey that included 2,000 Brits revealed that a third of respondents felt sad, lonely, and anxious after they finished watching a TV series. Therefore, it’s vital to remember that the lack of physical activity isn’t the only detrimental effect of binge-watching.

Binge-watchers are more likely to be depressed because binge-watching makes people want to escape the state of frustration and watch more video content to release that pressure.

18. Spending four or more hours per day watching TV can increase the risk of early death or cardiovascular disease by 50%.

(UCF)

According to an American Heart Association study led by the UCF Assistant Professor, not all sedentary behavior is equally harmful.

For example, people who spend most of their working hours at their desks get up from time to time, so they move more than an average TV watcher. That makes binge-watching much more dangerous.

Other Notable Stats and Facts About Binge-Watching

19. 361,000 Netflix subscribers watched all nine episodes of Stranger Things 2 on their TVs on the first day of its release.

(Deadline)

Nielsen’s Netflix binge-watching statistics reveal that 15.8 million Americans watched episode 1 of this season in the first three days. Of course, Stranger Things is just one among the top-rated series on Netflix.

Also, Nielsen gathered data only about TV watchers and excluded those who watched this TV show on their smartphones, meaning that the number of watchers was even higher.

20. The most binge-watched series on Netflix are those with horror and thriller elements or complex narratives.

(Netflix)

Although Netflix doesn’t publish viewership data, Netflix binge-watching statistics based on an international study of 100 shows reveal that thrillers, horrors, and sci-fi shows are more likely to be binge-watched.

21. 87% of people decide to binge-watch because they wish to see more of the story.

(Morning Consult)

Binge-watching statistics indicate that some of the most important reasons for binge-watching are wanting to know what happens next, liking the cast, and relaxation. Namely, 81% of people watch because they like the cast, while 80% see binge-watching as relaxing.

22. 2.6% of females and 1.9% of males reported binge-watching online series for more than ten hours at once.

(Statista)

Statista’s data on Netflix binge-watching demographics reveal that women are more prone to binge-watching for over ten hours.

Luckily, most people watch one to three hours of video series in one sitting. Also, it’s worth mentioning that 19.5% of male and 16% of female watchers don’t binge-watch online series at all.

23. 44% of American Netflix users caught a “backseat binger” who peaked at their screens.

(Mashable)

Most people who travel tend to binge-watch, especially during plane flights, so we can consider it one of the binge-watching trends.

Interestingly, 44% of travelers caught a person looking at their screens. What’s more, 11% of “public bingers” accidentally spoiled a show or movie while peeking at someone else’s screen.

Related Questions

What is binge-watching?

Binge-watching refers to watching educational or entertainment content (usually a single TV show) for a prolonged period of time. For example, watching two or more episodes of a TV show (or the entire season in one night) is considered binge-watching. Binge-watching isn’t the same as marathon-viewing, as it focuses more on self-indulgence instead of stamina.

How common is binge-watching?

It’s not surprising that more than 50% of almost all age groups regularly binge-watch movies or TV shows. According to a survey conducted in 2020, a shocking 70% of respondents aged between 30 and 44 reported that they often watched TV shows and films in one sitting.

Why is binge-watching so popular?

Binge-watching is prevalent because it activates the part of the brain responsible for reward functions, which produces more dopamine. However, our brain produces less dopamine doing the same activity over and over again, so we need to binge-watch even more to feel the same amount of enjoyment.

What is Netflix binging?

Netflix binging is binge-watching video content streamed through Netflix. In fact, Netflix is well-known for its binge-watch model. For instance, streamers release a whole season all at once, leading to Netflix users watching the entire season in one sitting. However, not all streamers follow this model.

Is binge-watching good for you?

Binge-watching isn’t entirely bad for you. It can help you relieve stress and not think about problems for some time. Also, it can help establish beneficial social connections. There’s always a community around a show, and people can discuss it with those around them. However, we can’t disregard all the harmful effects of binge-watching.

How to stop binge-watching?

Try to limit watching TV, set a time limit on your devices, or even delete all streaming apps. Also, you can reward yourself with a couple of episodes of your favorite TV show only after you complete necessary tasks or set a particular day when you can watch it. Still, binge-watching statistics and facts point out that discipline is crucial regardless of the method you choose.

Conclusion

Watching a whole season of your favorite TV show doesn’t have to be bad. Still, doing it all the time can have various detrimental consequences. Obesity, higher levels of stress, isolation, and poor sleep habits are just some of them.

Even though “Netflix and Chill” is a trendy term and many people think there’s nothing wrong with binge-watching, they should limit their screen time consumption. In conclusion, binge-watching isn’t dangerous when it’s done in moderation.

Thanks for joining us on this journey through the world of binge-watching—we hope you learned something new and interesting along the way.

Feel free to share the post with your friends and loved ones if you found it helpful.

Now get back to your shows! 😉

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Sources

• BYU
• Daily Toreador
• Deloitte
• Ipsos
• Mashable
• Morning Consult
• NCBI
• NCBI
• Netflix
• Nielsen
• Patient
• PR Newswire
• Statista
• Statista
• Statista
• Sykes
• Time
• UCF