If your typical House of Cards style is to binge-watch each season as it comes out, you should know that researchers say it “should no longer be viewed as a ‘harmless’ addictive behavior.” Instead, it should be viewed as an indicator of depression, loneliness, and an inability to control compulsions. (By the way, for this study, watching even three episodes at a time counts as binge-watching.)
It gets worse (or stays just as bad — depression is dangerous!). A different study found a link between binge-watching and early death.
So if you find yourself unable to resist downing Season 3 of House of Cards in one big gulp when it comes out next month, it may have more to do with your emotional state than with the gripping story line.
