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Here's How Netflix (NFLX) Is Saving Our Children

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At this point, it doesn’t really need to be said (again) that Netflix (NFLX - Free Report) has changed the television and film industries forever. However, new research suggests that Netflix may be having a much bigger impact on our children than one might expect.

While many still see Netflix’s main demographic as binge-watching millennials, the online streaming service is also becoming a main source of entertainment for kids; Netflix makes it relatively easy—and affordable—for a parent to sit their child in front of a screen with countless hours of entertainment.

Of course, kids have been sitting in front of TV screens for decades now. In fact, the image of a motionless child consumed by candy and TV has become frowned upon in a modern society that’s more aware of health and fitness issues.

Regardless, children are going to watch television—that’s just a fact. Sunday morning cartoons may have lost their luster, but kids still want their taste of TV entertainment. Who can really blame them for that?

Netflix has obviously changed the way kids get their TV fix, and it looks like the streaming service may be making watching television a slightly healthier habit than it is traditionally.

According to new research from Exstreamist, services like Netflix are saving the average kid from over 150 hours of commercials each year. Exstreamist found that children between the ages of two and 18 are spending an average of 1.8 hours per day using streaming services. Using Nielsen’s figure that says every hour of TV has over 14 minutes of advertising, Exstreamist discovered that kids could be avoiding over six days’ worth of commercials because of Netflix.

Why is this a big deal? Well, think about it. Commercials aren’t just interruptions from your favorite programs; they are advertisements for a variety of products. In the case of children’s TV, commercials are filled with products that appeal to kids: sugary cereal, calorie-filled soda, expensive toys, and unhealthy snacks.

While the parent is ultimately in charge of household purchases, these commercials serve to plant ideas in the minds of kids, who can be awfully convincing sometimes. By using streaming services, kids have less exposure to advertising from products that could potentially be harmful.

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