Netflix’s speed-binge feature is a bad idea for all parties involved

Netflix is testing a speed-binge feature on Android that allows viewers to speed up playback while keeping the audio. The idea is that viewers can watch shows and movies more quickly.

Netflix is testing a speed feature that allows viewers to speed up or slow down shows and movies they’re watching, according to a report from Entertainment Weekly.

Basically, they’re testing a feature that allows viewers to change the playback speed and audio to watch the show more quickly or more slowly.

When the news broke, many creatives in the TV and film industry spoke out against this test at Netflix. According to the report, Judd Apatow and Aaron Paul were just a few of those who have worked with Netflix to speak out against the feature. At this point, I’m sure every director, writer and performer would be against this.

Right now, the feature is still in the testing stage. Netflix has not committed to making it permanent.

Manipulating playback speeds is very popular among audiobooks and podcasts. Listeners will speed up the podcast or audiobook to get through it more quickly. So, that’s clearly the inspiration behind Netflix testing a speed feature for their shows and movies.

There’s no other way to put it; this is an awful idea.

Of course, it makes sense why Netflix would want to do this from a business perspective. The faster subscribers can stream content, the more content they can consume, in theory. I understand why they want to do it, but there are so many problems I have with this.

First of all, creators spend so much time throughout the process of writing, production and editing to get the timing right. Allowing viewers to manipulate this experience would be bad for everyone, especially those creating the shows and movies and attaching their names to the project. It’s their reputation on the line every time a new show or movie is released, and this feature has the ability to distort how viewers are watching and understanding a show or movie. That’s not cool.

Along with that, I have a problem with Netflix manipulating work that is not their own. Yes, there are some shows that Netflix owns, but a lot of their content is licensed, meaning Netflix pays to keep it on their platform. Because these shows and movies are not Netflix-owned content, they have no right to manipulate it.

I also have a problem with the effect this has on society. Netflix is the biggest streaming service in the world, and it says a lot that they would prioritize speed-bingeing. Are we such gluttons that we need to speed through shows and movies to simply see what happens? Don’t we want to enjoy the nuance and subtlety that comes with these great shows and movies?

That’s what gets lost when speed-bingeing a new series or movie.

Imagine watching Breaking Bad or Stranger Things and losing out on all the pauses and things left unsaid. All that suspense that builds and builds and builds to a payoff is basically thrown out the window. The whole show changes, and that’s mainly why I’m against this feature.

There’s already enough stimuli disguised as entertainment in the modern world. We don’t need to watch movies and shows at hyperspeed to get through them more quickly.

I hope Netflix reconsiders this test and doesn’t make this a permanent feature.

It should be noted that Netflix tests a variety of new features to improve viewer experience, and most of those features are not made permanent.