Ah, binge-watching. A modern day revelation that brings millennials of all sorts together to bond over the countless hours they spend staring at screens. It follows a similar pattern as social media did when it was first released unto the world, except now, it takes bigger proportions in the forms of computer, phone, and even theaters. To binge means "a short period devoted to indulging in an activity to excess, especially drinking alcohol or eating" (Dictionary.com), but it has taken on a new form in the place of computer screens. Now, when you binge-watch, it's synonymous with finishing TV shows as fast as possible and just watching episode after episode. It's something that has taken over our generation.
My first experience with binge-watching came about my sophomore year of high school. Massachusetts had just broken the record for most snowfall in a single winter and I had 9 days off of school that year, and most of those days included lack of cable access (I blame Comcast for making me the way I am). By day 4, I was so bored out of my mind that I turned on my Apple TV and started watching "Friends," which had just been released at the time, and I was hooked. That’s where it all began.
One of the ways my parents used to exercise their power over my siblings and I by cancelling Netflix whenever they felt as if it was getting out of hand. And I don’t blame them -- I finished 10 seasons of "Friends"in 2 months (That’s 236 episodes over the course of 60 days), and, admittedly, I had a problem. I was spending warm Saturdays inside, in my room, only moving from my bed to go to the bathroom or get a snack. Since then, I still binge-watch, but I try and do it a.) less frequently and b.) only during certain seasons. I 100% watch more TV and movies in the winter when I have snow days or nothing else to do (I grew up in northeastern Massachusetts -- snow is the enemy) versus in the summer when I could be at the beach or picking up shifts at work. This is, of course, a negative of binge-watching. You find yourself slowly cut off from society if it gets too out of hand, but it's very rare that you get to the extreme point of social isolation. 
A TiVo survey in 2015 revealed that 9 out of 10 people have admitted to binge-watching at least one TV show. In November on 2015, 40% of teens between the ages of 14 and 18 binge watched at least once a month. With Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Video now releasing movie after movie and TV series after TV series, you have access to a whole story at one time, so why not just keep going?
As of their third quarter of 2017, Netflix has around 110 million monthly subscribers to their service (That's almost 2 times the population of Greenland!!!)
Some TV shows do require a 'STOP EVERYTHING YOU’RE DOING AND FINISH THIS NOW' mentality. For example, when the new season of "Stranger Things" was released ten days ago, I finished the entire season in 48 hours (it would’ve been done sooner, but I didn’t have a computer and I had a midterm, so priorities were a bit scattered). I’m sure by now you have heard about it -- a show centered around middle school kids who play the game Dungeons and Dragons, until a fellow member goes missing and they have to find him with the help of his mom who’s going crazy, outsider older brother, a sarcastic and seemingly no-hecks-giving police chief, and a new friend (that’s literally as basic as I can get without spoilers). Shows such as this, "House of Cards" (which is now being cancelled. THANKS FOR NOTHING, KEVIN SPACEY), "Narcos," "13 Reasons Why" and other Netflix originals all follow a very similar pattern -- the minute they’re released, their loyal fan bases are immediately all over it. Tumblr blows up. Reddit explodes. There are 15 new news articles posted a minute with critics’ thoughts, comments, and concerns (To whoever said Eleven ruined "Stranger Things 2," you are now dead to me. Millie Bobby Brown is too pure and good for you). 
(The Stranger Things kids: (L-R) Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, Finn Wolfhard, and Millie Bobby Brown)
A lot of it comes from the actors hyping up their shows, but so much of these online TV shows get their hype from word-of-mouth. I found out about "Making a Murderer" in Forensic Science last fall, "Stranger Things" from one of my guy friends, and "Master of None" just because I love Aziz Ansari. The quality being produced is getting nationally recognized accolades (In acting alone, Netflix shows have produced 62 Emmy nominations since 2013), and it’s enjoyable. I bet if you tried as hard as you could, you still wouldn’t be able to find at least one show on Netflix that you didn’t like. Even aside from Netflix, "Manchester By the Sea" is an Amazon Video production, and if you haven’t seen it, you’re severely behind the hype.
(Uzo Aduba with her Emmy for portraying Crazy Eyes on Netflix's Orange is the New Black. Fun Fact: She went to BU!)
In conclusion, there is absolutely nothing wrong with binge-watching in moderation. I wouldn’t say it’s worth missing your prom or classes at school, but it’s a great way to be in on what’s happening now. Plus, if you have access to completion, why not just power through? And, for the love of God, PLEASE do yourself a favor and just watch "Stranger Things." If you get nothing else out of this article, let it be that. (Plus, you'll be caught up on my next article, "If You Haven't Watched Stranger Things Yet, What Are You Doing?").
