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Netflix cheating on the rise

February 13, 2017

According to a Netflix study, nearly half (46 per cent) of streaming couples around the world have “cheated” on their significant other (but it’s not what you think).

Defined as watching a TV show ahead of your significant other, Netflix cheating was first uncovered in a study in the US in 2013. Four years later, cheating has increased three times and has become a common behaviour around the world. This behaviour only continues to grow with 60 per cent of consumers saying they’d cheat more if they knew they’d get away with it. And once you cheat, you can’t stop: 81 per cent of cheaters are repeat offenders and 44 per cent have cheated 3+ times.

In a binge-watching world where it’s easy to say ‘just one more,’ Netflix cheating has quickly become the new normal…

Where is cheating happening? (everywhere)

The US (48 per cent) rounds out the top five countries on the list of Netflix cheaters worldwide. Brazil and Mexico are home to the most cheaters (57 per cent to 58 per cent respectively), whereas the most loyal viewers who have not cheated in Netherlands (73 per cent), Germany (65 per cent) and Poland (60 per cent).

What shows are we cheating on? (all of them)

While no show is off limits, top cheating temptations in the US are The Walking Dead, Orange Is The New Black, Breaking Bad, House of Cards and Marvel’s Daredevil. It’s no laughing matter – more than half of cheaters in the US (55 per cent) prefer to risk their relationships by indulging on dramas over comedies.

Why do we cheat? (we just can’t help it)

Most don’t intend to cheat…it just happens: 80 percent of cheating is unplanned. The trigger for the growing trend in cheating? Self-control… more than two-thirds (69 per cent) of cheaters in the US admitted they were unfaithful to their streaming partner as a result of “an uncontrollable desire to find out what’s next”.

How do we cheat? (any way we can)

Sleep with one eye open: 27 per cent of cheating happens in the US when one partner falls asleep. But whether this is even cheating is hotly debated. Half say ‘sleep cheating’ doesn’t count (52 per cent), but the morality of ‘sleep cheating’ varies across the globe. Chileans think it’s no big deal, Japan sees it as unforgivable. Many American streaming couples are still cheating in secret: 36 percent never admit to their indiscretions.

Is cheating so bad? (depends where you live)

If you stray, don’t beat yourself up. Cheating has become more socially acceptable, with 46 per cent saying it’s “not bad at all”. However, it’s an absolute no-no for anyone paired with the 14 per cent of American streaming couples who admonish the thought of watching ahead. You’d sooner get a pass for forgetting a birthday or even an anniversary.

Is my partner a cheater? (spoiler alert:  most likely)

Cheating comes in many forms. Netflix has created a handy series of assets to visually map this phenomenon. Cheating Profiles highlight the most common types of offenders lurking in households around the world.

Categories: Articles, Consumer Behaviour, Premium, Research, VOD