You open Netflix. Twenty minutes later, you're still scrolling. Nothing feels right. You close the app without watching anything.
My friends think I'm strange when I tell them I prefer live TV, flicking through channels until something catches my eye. They don't understand why I'd choose scheduled programming over infinite on-demand options.
But those twenty minutes of scrolling aren't just wasted time. They're exhausting.
Researchers call it "Netflix Syndrome"; the documented phenomenon where excessive content choice triggers decision paralysis and stress. Studies show that: people spend longer searching; they experience higher choice effort; and they report only moderate satisfaction even when they finally pick something. We trust the recommendation algorithms, but they keep disappointing us.
For neurodivergent people, this weight is heavier. ADHD brains show distinct patterns during decision-making tasks - increased activation across multiple brain regions, compared to neurotypical control subjects. In other words, my brain works harder to make the same choice you'd make effortlessly.
Executive function is the brain's management system. It’s responsible for prioritising, organising, and initiating action. In ADHD, lower dopamine levels mean this system runs on partial power. Each decision, even a small one, depletes limited resources.
When I flick through terrestrial TV channels, I'm not choosing from 10,000 options. I'm choosing from maybe twenty. The decision tree is manageable. Something's on right now. I either watch it or I don't. The structure makes the choice for me.
This matters more than people realise. One study on digital systems and neurodivergent students found that poorly designed interfaces create "invisible access work" - extra cognitive labour that neurotypical users never notice. Streaming platforms, for all their convenience, impose exactly this burden. They promise freedom but deliver decision fatigue.
My friends scroll through Netflix while chatting, barely noticing the effort. For them, it's background noise. For me, it's a task that requires focus, drains energy, and often ends in frustration.
Live TV gives me something precious: the freedom from choosing. The schedule decides. I surrender control and gain peace. It sounds backwards - less choice equals more freedom - but that's exactly how it feels.
Don't get me wrong, I do use streaming services. When there's something specific I want to watch, they're perfect. I know what I want. I search for it. I watch it. No browsing. No comparing. No decision fatigue. When I have a clear goal, the vast catalog becomes a tool instead of a burden, and it’s amazing being able to just watch what you want when you want. It's the open-ended "let me find something to watch" sessions that drain me.
I understand why people love on-demand content. But I'm tired of pretending this system works equally well for everyone. It doesn't. The paradox of choice isn't just a catchy phrase; it's a daily reality for those of us whose brains already work overtime on ordinary decisions.
When I tell people I prefer live TV, I'm not being nostalgic. I'm being practical. I'm preserving cognitive resources for decisions that actually matter. I'm choosing a structure that works with my brain instead of against it.
Sometimes I just want to watch whatever's on.
I don't have any photos of TV channels.
So you are blessed with other examples of choices I've been presented with.
References
Kim, H., Choi, J. H., & Bao, T. (2025). Why Does Netflix Syndrome Occur: A Study on the Effect of Content Choice Deferral on Stress. Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research, 13(1), 3–29.
D'Urso, G. (2024). User's Dilemma: A Qualitative Study on the Influence of Netflix Recommender Systems on Choice Overload. Psychological Studies, 69, 349–367.
Tcherdakoff, N. A., Marshall, P., Dowthwaite, A., Bird, J., & Cox, A. L. (2024). Burnout by Design: How Digital Systems Overburden Neurodivergent Students in Higher Education. Proceedings of the 4th Annual Symposium on Human-Computer Interaction for Work.