Press Article: The Dilemma of Streaming ‘Cheating’ in Relationships
In a candid letter to advice columnist R. Eric Thomas, a newlywed reflects on a recent dispute with her husband concerning binge-watching a shared Netflix series. The couple, who have prided themselves on doing everything together, faced an unexpected emotional rift after the husband continued watching episodes without her while she slept.
The wife expressed feeling “hurt” and “duped” by her husband’s actions, especially since they had committed to sharing the viewing experience. Despite her feelings, her husband dismissed the issue as petty and even refused to watch any more episodes together, compounding her distress.
Thomas identifies this scenario as a common occurrence dubbed “streaming cheating,” where one partner watches ahead while the other misses out, leading to feelings of betrayal. He notes that streaming services foster this behavior with their structure—autoplay features and cliffhangers tempt viewers to keep watching, often leading to breaches of previously established agreements.
Thomas advises couples facing similar conflicts to view them as minor relationship hiccups rather than signs of deeper trust issues. It is essential for couples to communicate openly to resolve misunderstandings and prevent future resentments from bubbling to the surface.
Ultimately, he encourages the couple to find a way to continue enjoying their shared activities, even if it occasionally means one person having to rewatch episodes already viewed by the other.
For those who wish to share their relationship queries, Thomas invites them to write to him via email or traditional post, continuing to provide sage advice for navigating modern dilemmas in love and partnership.
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Photo credit www.oregonlive.com
