I used to think that streaming services were a good way to save money because they allowed you to cut the cord on cable. But now that the prices of streaming services have increased, I’m starting to rethink my Netflix subscription. Here are 5 reasons why I think streaming services have become a waste of money.
Streaming Services Frequently Cancel Shows
One of my biggest gripes with streaming services is that they frequently cancel shows. It’s frustrating to get invested in a new show only for it to be canceled after one or two seasons. This prevents me from watching new Netflix originals because I don’t want to get attached to a show that will never get a good ending.
Because watching Netflix originals feels like a waste of time, I find myself logging in to Netflix much less often. Lately I’ve been enjoying free content like TikTok videos and YouTube channels, so I’m starting to wonder if I should end my Netflix subscription.
It’s Hard to Decide What to Watch
In my opinion, streaming services are bad at suggesting new content for users to watch. Apps like TikTok and YouTube are not only easier to navigate, but also have more sophisticated algorithms that show you unique content you’ll enjoy. TikTok automatically adds new videos to your feed so you don’t have to decide what to watch. YouTube also has a long list of suggested content on the sidebar of every video you watch, which makes it much easier to queue up the next video. Plus, my entire homepage is full of videos by channels I’m subscribed to and related channels YouTube thinks I’ll like.
Netflix only has one or two rows of suggested content that’s based on your tastes. The rest of the homepage is dedicated to popular and trending shows. It’s unsurprising to me that it takes Netflix users an average of 18 minutes to decide what to watch since the platform’s interface isn’t very personalized.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t have 18 minutes of free time every day to aimlessly scroll on Netflix looking for content. Usually I only have 30 minutes available to watch a show. Spending that much time figuring out what to watch would really eat into my free time. That’s why I find myself reaching for TikTok more often because it simply has a better algorithm and doesn’t cost me a penny to use.
Streaming Services Have Gotten Expensive
Speaking of cost, I think streaming services have gotten unreasonably expensive. Now a standard ad-free Netflix plan that supports two devices is $15.49 per month. It seems like just yesterday that Netflix was $10 per month! Now it feels like you don’t get as much value for your money because so many streaming services are cutting shows and movies from their library to reduce licensing fees and boost profits. Plus, Disney and other companies have pulled their content from legacy streaming services like Netflix to start their own platforms.
Because there are so many players in the streaming game, content is very spread out now. It feels like you have to subscribe to three different services to have access to all the movies and shows you want to watch. The average household has simply decided to pay up and subscribes to an average of four streaming services. But this seems wrong to me considering that streaming services are supposed to be a cheaper alternative to cable. If you’re paying for four different streaming services, you’re spending the same amount as a basic cable package anyway!
Many People Aren’t Using Their Subscriptions
Although Americans have a bundle of streaming services, studies have shown that they aren’t actually using them. About 29% of Disney Plus subscribers admitted they haven’t watched anything on the platform in the last 30 days. About 22% of Amazon Prime and Netflix subscribers haven’t watched anything in the last month either.
On average, households are wasting more than $25 per month on streaming services they don’t really use. Many Americans are paying for the option to enjoy their favorite movies and shows, but aren’t actually watching them (myself included). Since my Netflix watch time has plummeted, I’m probably going to cancel my subscription for a few months and see if I can make do without it. It’s not worth it to spend money on a service you don’t use often, especially with all the free content options available, such as YouTube, TikTok, and Tubi.
Do you think streaming services are worth the money? How many do you subscribe to and how often do you use them? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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