Are you reading this article on your phone while “watching” your favourite TV show? No judgment; you’re far from the only one.
The “second screen” phenomenon tells us that TV bosses – those in charge of streamers like Netflix in particular – are more than aware that we are scrolling social media or perusing articles while consuming their content. A recent study found that 94% of 25–34-year-olds scroll while watching TV, with 1 in 3 admitting they ‘always’ do it. 91% of those aged between 35 and 44 agreed.
This isn’t a brand new phenomenon persé, but it does seem to be getting increasingly common. As someone who is a big fan of “background noise” as I work, I’ve often whacked on a sitcom I’ve seen thousands of times while I write. But it feels like some of the biggest releases of recent weeks and months have been made with the same somewhat “ambient” nature in mind.
During a recent appearance on The Romesh Ranganathan Show, Jameela Jamil opened up about how writers are being told to “dumb down” the content we watch to ensure it still holds our attention while we doomscroll.
“It’s a directive that’s being handed out by big studios to filmmakers,” she said. "You have to acknowledge that people are on their phones the whole time they’re watching telly. [Writers] have to simplify the plot so that [audiences will] be able to follow along while they’re browsing on their phone.
Oh, it’d be great if there were a tag on shows that do this, so I can filter them out.
Do people pay attention more when they’re watching something that isn’t dumbed-down second-screen slop?
I have a tendency to scroll, but it usually tells me that what I’m watching is shit. If it something I really like I’m glued to it. For me, some examples are: The Curse, The White Lotus, Taskmaster, Dark, The Rehearsal.
It’s the other way around. When the show or movie fails to get my attention or is simply boring, THATS when I grab my phone.::: spoiler Title :::
My wife likes to have a background TV while she works. Shows that try extra hard to catch your attention are terrible for this typeof viewing and tend to be dropped. Oddly, it’s the quieter shows like Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials, Harlan Coben adaptations and other slow shows with very aubtle and atmospheric soundtracks that tend to win out. I think she’s looped Seven Dials like six times so far; just for background noise.
