Netflix — an enemy of your intentional life — deployed a new weapon in their desire-shaping arsenal a couple weeks ago. It’s a deceptively helpful sounding button titled: “Play Something”.
According to Netflix’s own announcement: “There are times when we just don’t want to make decisions. A Friday evening after a long work week. A fridge full of food but nothing jumps out… That’s why we’ve created Play Something, an exciting new way to kick back and watch.”
So Netflix, one of the most powerful corporations in the world, the company who normalized “binge watching”, whose CEO declared four years ago that their competition is your good night’s sleep, wants you to trust them to make decisions for you.
And they sound so friendly, relatable, and inviting about it, don’t they? Like a trusted friend who brings a meal over when you’re worn out after a hard day.
But they aren’t your friend. They want one thing: to entice you watch their platform. More everyday. More than a full time job. Tragically, many people are enticed by platforms like Netflix to waste their one God-given life.
Netflix also wants you to join them in their destructive worldview, with shows like Thirteen Reasons Why that glamorize suicide, or others like Cuties that want to normalize the sexualization of children. Their content is leading world culture in a dark and destructive direction.
So when you’re at your weakest — when you’re tired, stressed, or overwhelmed — what’s the first thought they hope you’ll have? “Netflix … Play Something!“
Those of us who desire to live in freedom will not surrender our decision making power over to companies who intentionally exploit us. Instead, we will fight for our ability to think clearly and to become all God made us to be. We will be counter-cultural.
If you don’t see what the big deal is, please, may I encourage you to read (or listen to) my book. Awaken to what screens are doing to you, or I strongly believe you’ll regret your lack of intentionality.
Join me in saying, “No thanks, Netflix. I’m going to play something I choose.“