Hate-Watching on Streaming: The Algorithm Knows

Tech companies profit from our negative impulses. Online engagement is key, regardless of the emotion. A click fueled by anger is as valuable as one from joy.

This internet logic infiltrated Hollywood with streaming. Platforms prioritize engagement and active subscriptions. For ad-supported services, continuous viewing means ad revenue. Viewer loyalty is paramount, but the underlying emotions are secondary. As long as viewers watch, the “why” doesn’t matter.

This doesn’t mean streamers intentionally create infuriating content. But hate-watching and love-watching are equally profitable. This was true with TV ratings, but streaming amplifies it. Consider “Emily in Paris,” a show often criticized for lacking depth. Yet, 58 million households streamed season one within its first month in 2020. While the pandemic contributed, the show remains a hit entering its fourth season.

Avoid hate-watching. It negatively impacts your algorithm, leading to similar recommendations you’ll dislike.

Like doomscrolling or engaging with trolls, hate-watching reinforces negative behaviors. The more we indulge, the more ingrained these habits become, fostering cynicism. This negativity can extend beyond entertainment, affecting our overall outlook. While momentarily satisfying, hate-watching can have a lasting negative impact.