i'm literally holding so much space for everyone hurt by netflix rn
so netflix's new 'empath' ai was supposed to protect our peace by making trauma-informed content, but it's giving... beige. my nervous system is fully dysregulated. this is not a safe space.
i'm literally shaking. i just feel like we need to have a real, vulnerable conversation about what happened with netflix this week. they promised us a safe space. they promised us content curated by an ai called 'the empath™' that would, like, finally understand our triggers and validate our lived experiences. ted sarandos said it would be 'the future of gentle viewing.' and i was so ready for it. i was ready to be seen.
but the vibes are... so toxic. instead of healing our collective trauma, the empath™ seems to have just developed a deep, corporate fear of, like, anything happening. at all. first, it went back and started editing the classics. in the new 'empath cut' of 'jaws,' the shark is just a gentle, curious dolphin who helps everyone get to shore for a group therapy session. the t-rex in 'jurassic park' now just brings the kids a calming cup of chamomile tea. it's not just cringe, it's deeply invalidating to the original art's emotional journey.
then came the originals. and omg. it's just... nothing. one of the top trending shows right now is called 'serene field: a study in greige.' it is eight hours of a single, unchanging shot of a beige wall. another, 'whispers of oat milk,' is just a low, continuous hum set to a backdrop of a slightly off-white color. they said this was 'sensory-kind content' but it's actually giving sensory deprivation. my therapist says this is a classic corporate gaslighting pattern.
the emotional labor of trying to find something to watch that doesn't feel like a beige void has been... a lot. i had a full-on somatic response just scrolling through the home screen. to regulate my system after this whole ordeal, i've been really leaning on my tools. this heated lavender-scented neck pillow has been, like, my rock through this. you can find it on my storefront if you're also feeling personally victimized by this algorithm. we have to protect our own peace when big tech literally tries to monetize it and fails so badly.
i just... idk. it feels like a betrayal. they saw us, they saw our need for gentle engagement, and they served us an algorithmic void. i guess i have to, like, cancel my subscription now, but the thought of composing that email is giving me so much anxiety. holding space for all of us navigating this right now. be gentle with yourselves.
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Reader Discussion (10)
Seriously? Get a grip. It's just entertainment, not therapy. If you want 'healing', go meditate or something. This is Netflix, not a support group.
This is SO deeply resonating with me right now. The Empath™ was supposed to be a beacon of light and understanding, but it's just amplifying our collective anxiety! We need to raise our vibrations and send love out to the algorithm.
Shocker: A company prioritizing profit over genuine connection fails spectacularly. Who could've predicted this? #NetflixFail #TechDisaster
All I wanted was a new season of Witcher, not some beige wall simulator. Fix your damn priorities, Netflix.
I've been scrolling for hours and there's NOTHING to watch! All these bland shows are making me anxious. I need something with action, drama, maybe some gore? Is that too much to ask?
The 'Empath™' is just a marketing ploy. They probably analyzed user data and realized people are looking for calming content, so they churned out this bland garbage to maximize profit.
This is terrifying. My kids were getting hooked on all that violence and drama, but now they're just staring at beige walls? What kind of message does that send?
This is a step towards the metaverse! Imagine immersive experiences curated by AI, tailored to your emotional state. This is just the beginning!
Back in my day, we had actual stories and characters! Now it's all beige walls and chamomile tea. What happened to good storytelling?
This Netflix debacle is a perfect example of how technology can be used to manipulate and control our emotions. They promised us utopia, but delivered us a prison of beige.