Opinion: How has Netflix Affected SWAU Students?

Gus Axelson

(edited by Saul Flores)

Netflix has been a big part of University student’s lives from watching their favorite shows and movies to watching a random series that their friends suggested. A study done by Geoffrey Graybeal, professor of media and communications at Texas Tech University, found that nine out of ten students use Netflix on a regular basis. Most of the students binge-watch (watching three or more episodes) of their shows. How has this Netflix phenomenon affected Southwestern Adventist University?

“Netflix is a distraction,” says Ben Pelto, freshman. “If it’s not helping my academic career, then why watch it right?”

Netflix can be a distraction, but it can also relieve some stress that students accumulate during the semester.

“Neflix is for when I don’t feel good,” says Jacob Carvalho, junior. “I watch it when I don’t want to do anything else.  But, I also watch Hulu, because it has more recent TV shows like Bones.”

Students who want to save some money should really think twice about having to pay for Netflix and other streaming services.

“It makes no difference in my college experience,” says Kelsey Laue, junior. “I don’t use it, I don’t have time for it and I probably wouldn’t even get it if it means paying for it.”

Other students don’t have Netflix just because of the content that it is available to watch.

“I don’t have time for it,” says Stephanie Brautigan, sophomore. “And more importantly, it doesn’t have the movies or shows that I like.”

Netflix is a good way to spend time if students are trying to de-stress themselves and not think of school work for a while.  But it can also be a very big distraction and students can easily start binge-watching shows.  So students have to be able to control their Netflix viewing for them to really enjoy it and get work done as well.

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