More and more millennials turn to Netflix

The cell phone view of Netflix’s Home Page.
Photo Courtesy: Kaiyah Clarke

Netflix has become the leading streaming service worldwide with more than 130 million subscribers.

In 1997, Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph created the online movie rental portal that is Netflix.

By 2000, Hastings and Randolph had implemented a rating system to assess individualized genres and movies that are favored by each subscriber.

The number of members on Netflix rose to 4.5 million by 2005.

By 2010, Netflix was offered on a plethora of digital platforms and had expanded its services to Canada.

Netflix was a renowned worldwide streaming service by 2016.

With the lack of interest in other forms of traditional rental services like Blockbuster and cable servicing, Netflix makes a way for the future with advanced technology in mind.

Today, many millennials and college students make use of the portable streaming service as a convenient and affordable source of entertainment.

 Amy Moore, a senior math education student at Florida A&M, was introduced to Netflix through the “grapevine.”

“I know like 15 people who use Netflix so it’s very popular. Netflix helps me unwind from college work and puts me in a good state of mind while taking a break from the hectic lifestyle of being a college student,” said Moore.

The growing variety of shows, movies, original productions and even older works are slowly replacing the current form of television.

In 2018, one may be able to record, fast forward and rewind on cable television. Yet it’s not as accessible on multiple devices outside of one’s home. The use of cable boxes is still required for live and updated television at a higher price as well.

Netflix also has its share of competitors in other streaming services like Hulu and Amazon Prime.

Contrasted with Hulu, Netflix presents documentaries, original shows, movies, foreign films, religious illustrations and older sitcoms and movies. Hulu only presents what is currently running on network TV along with the occasional original series.

Avery Bryant, a senior elementary education major at FAMU, explained why Netflix is the best option for him.

“You pick it over anything else because you get more for your money. It satisfies what any person is looking for. I get to go back and rerun some of my favorite shows without worrying about any commercials interrupting. It is an all-around great streaming service and very entertaining,” said Bryant.

It may all sound too good to be true. The downsides to Netflix include the recent rise in price and an additional charge of $2.99 in all plans, the inconsistent add and drop of titles and the limit on new content with their original series.

For example, “Orange is the New Blackis one of Netflix’s most popular original series and it has received many Emmy, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and BAFTA award nominations.

The only frustration with the show comes in the delayed process of new seasons and episodes as this show is considered “binge worthy” and takes a year to produce each season.

Naja Haynes, a senior theater performance student from Orlando, believes Netflix could do better with keeping titles on the service.

“I don’t like how Netflix takes off the shows that I haven’t gotten to watch yet. Like, I would be interested in a show similar to “Twilight Zone,” but it seems as if the show would disappear as soon as it airs,” said Haynes.

For more on what Netflix has to offer as a streaming service, visit https://media.netflix.com/en/releases-and-blogs