Give yourself a 55% chance of a better serving this Christmas!
Whilst the Netflix offer of US$83 billion to buy Warner Brothers may have grabbed the headlines recently, there’s a hidden potential subplot that may have escaped attention.
Give yourself a 55% chance of a better serving this Christmas!
Netflix know from their research that a staggering 94% of viewers are holding their phones while watching their movies. And over half of them look at their phones ‘very or fairly often’.
Not surprisingly perhaps, Netflix discovered some variation in the regions studied. In the US and in the UK 55% are glued to their phones, whilst it’s 60% in India.
Fearing a loss of viewers, Netflix have decreed that film plots need to be made easier to follow. Daphne Rena Idiz, Post Doctorate Fellow at the University of Toronto, reported that films on Netflix must now be ‘intentionally scripted for distracted viewers.’
So will this mean adding explanations as to how Harry Potter is able to fly? Or that the Wizard of Oz does not in fact live in Sydney?
Second Screen Syndrome
The thing is, this ‘second screen syndrome’ is nothing new.
It’s long been known that no-one can think and listen at the same time. And by the same token, no-one can read and listen at the same time.
No-one can read a PowerPoint slide and simultaneously listen to the presenter. Although it would appear that not all presenters are aware of this – or, if they are – don’t know how to address it.
But the impact of this simple truism isn’t limited to making presentations. It applies to everyday communication.
Including, for example, restaurant waiters.
So if you’re out for a meal over the coming holidays and fancy a glass of wine, here’s how to increase the chances you’re getting a bit extra in your glass:
As the waiter pours the wine, you start speaking and don’t pause
Show deep interest in the waiter and in the restaurant. Or talk about the weather. But do not mention anything to do with wine
Ask open-ended questions and maintain constant eye-contact with the waiter
According to research, you’ll be giving yourself a 55% chance of a better serving!
Merry Christmas!
The CONNECT team would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! All the best wishes for 2026! Looking forward to connecting again in the new year! ✨
