As Netflix and other streaming services have become more and more popular in recent years, a debate has sprung up over whether binge watching a TV show is better than watching TV during prime time. There are many pros and cons for each stance on this argument, but binging is definitely the new norm for many.

There are many positive aspects to binge watching. With binge watching, there is no need to wait for new episodes to premiere like you would for any other regular TV show. Along with no wait, viewers do not have to set aside a certain time in order to watch a new episode as they have control over when they watch and how many episodes they want to watch in one sitting. Unlike ordinary television, with streaming services like Netflix, viewers are able to enjoy their favorite TV shows without having to sit through annoying commercials. Ultimately, there are many positives that come with the new age of TV.

On the other hand, binge watching does have some negative aspects to it. With regular TV shows, the directors may leave viewers with a cliffhanger in which they must wait quite some time to discover the outcome. With binge watching, this effect on viewers has lost its magic as the wait time for new episodes has been lost completely; viewers are able to watch one episode after another, and so on.

Along with cliffhangers being ruined, the possibility for spoilers has increased drastically. Since the whole season is released at a time on streaming services, there is a possibility that many people binge watching are doing so at a quicker pace. This increases the probability of the season being ruined for others, especially with the increase of social media usage. In order to avoid any spoilers, people are encouraged to finish the season as soon as possible, which results in ruined sleep schedules and unproductive days.

Despite the downsides to binge watching, I feel as if the pros outweigh the cons, making it superior to prime time television. With binge watching, you are able to fully immerse yourself in a season all at once. Also, spoilers are easy to avoid if viewers dedicate themselves to spending no time on the Internet while watching a new season. With these things in mind, binge watching is 100% better than prime time television.