Are you a ‘Netflix cheater’? One in 10 Britons admits to secretly watching episodes of series they’d promised to watch with someone else
- A survey of 2,000 UK adults was run by the internet provider Hyperoptic
- More than one in ten (11 per cent) Britons confess to being a streaming ‘cheater’
- Half of all virtual cheaters confess to doing it on at least a weekly basis
Streaming has boomed throughout the pandemic, with Britons in lockdown forced to binge-watch TV boxsets and movies to entertain themselves.
But the rise in streaming has seen an equally shocking spike in people ‘cheating’ on their viewing partner and rushing ahead to watch the next episode.
According to a survey of 2,000 UK adults from internet provider Hyperoptic, more than one in ten (11 per cent) Britons confess to being a streaming ‘cheater’.
According to a survey of 2,000 UK adults from internet provider Hyperoptic, more than one in ten (11 per cent) Britons confess to being a streaming ‘cheater’
Young people between 16 and 24, considered to be ‘Gen Z’, are the worst culprits with one in four admitting to being a regular streaming cheater.
Half of all virtual cheaters confess to doing it on at least a weekly basis.
Men are more regular cheaters than women, with 22 per cent of males doing it daily, compared to just 13 per cent of women.
The top reasons cited for streaming cheating are impatience to watch the next episode (50 per cent), followed by feeling bored (21 per cent).
Romantic partners are the most likely to be cheated upon than family members and friends and the addictive shows causing the infidelity include Game of Thrones (16 per cent of cheaters), Stranger things (15 per cent) and Sex Education (15 per cent).
The research found Britons are currently spending an average of 2.6 hours a day streaming TV, with over 40 per cent watching three or more shows simultaneously
Eight per cent of questionnaire respondents say the deceit has led to arguments with their partner and four per cent claim it was the final straw that led to a break up.
Ofcom data reveals 12 million UK adults signed up to a new video streaming service during lockdown, with Netflix, Amazon and Disney+ collating a total of 32.4 million subscribers, almost half of the entire country’s population.
Other common complaints about streaming content were buffering (25 per cent), indecisive watchers (20 per cent), Netflix spoilers, (19 per cent,) and people who talk through a show (19 per cent).
The research found Britons are currently spending an average of 2.6 hours a day streaming TV, with over 40 per cent watching three or more shows simultaneously.
Charles Davies, a managing director of Hyperoptic, said: ‘The lockdown has fuelled a big rise in streaming subs, which have brought with them new rules of etiquette.
‘Becoming a renowned ‘Netflix spoiler’ could make people put a pause on wanting to speak to you about their viewing habits.
‘So, the is message clear – think carefully before choosing your series and viewing partners!’