Spoiler alerts are more essential than ever in the streaming age

Eager Eves and Forward Floyds need to stop shamelessly share key plot details of hot shows with their social media followers

27 January 2019 - 00:00 By pearl boshomane tsotetsi
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'Wait, who dies in GOT season 8? But I haven't seen it yet!'
'Wait, who dies in GOT season 8? But I haven't seen it yet!'
Image: 123RF/vadymvdrobot

We know that the "watch what you want, when you want" streaming model is great for the consumer. But do you know what isn't great about it? How much harder it's become to avoid spoilers when it comes to series and movies. 

In the good old days (ie 2014), people had the manners to at least write "spoiler alert" before sharing a major spoiler. But the kids these days have no decorum, as shown by their propensity for live-tweeting shows and films as they watch them.

This wouldn't be a problem if these shows weren't being streamed: live-tweeting TV is a fun community-bonding exercise. If you catch a spoiler, too bad - why weren't you at home watching a show you love as it played, like other people? You a have a job? What?

Now streaming has taken time slots out of the equation, meaning many of us are watching the same thing at different times. This also means that Eager Eves and Forward Floyds - those who must be the first to watch the hot new series or film - now shamelessly share key plot details from You, Bird Box, The Haunting of Hill House (or whatever else), with their Twitter followers.

It's incredibly rude because they don't even have the decency to tag it "SPOILER ALERT". Sizwe, we get it - you're watching Velvet Buzzsaw before the rest of us - but maybe save the live updates for your WhatsApp group or we'll have to mute and block you.


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