The internet, binge-watching and time-shifted viewing make it almost impossible to avoid TV spoilers these days. A new study from Netflix shows TV audiences have come to accept the spoiler-full world they live in.
The research conducted by the Harris Poll found that 76 percent of U.S. adults realize “spoilers are simply a fact of life” and 94 percent said hearing a spoiler wouldn’t stop them from watching the rest of a TV series. Only 13 percent of viewers were more likely to watch a series they hadn’t seen or weren’t planning to watch.
“Spoilers aren’t the end of the world that they used to be,” Grant McCracken, author and cultural anthropologist, told Netflix.
While some TV viewers recognize a moratorium on spoilers (i.e. 24 hours or until the next episode airs), one in five find it acceptable to spoil a major plot twist immediately, according to the poll.
McCracken identified five different types of people who spoil shows for their friends (or anyone unfortunate enough to run across their Twitter feed). He based his spoiler types on how and why a spoiler might spill key plot points.
The first group is the “Clueless Spoilers,” who don’t always realize they're giving anything away because they assume if they’ve seen the show, so has everyone else. The second is the “Coded Spoiler,” who tries to disguise his synopsis, but only to those who aren’t as invested in the show as the spoiler.
The “Impulsive Spoilers” love their favorite shows so much that they inadvertently give away plot details past season one. The “Power Spoiler” is manipulative and likes to tease others about major episode twists. The final personality type is the “Shameless Spoiler” who doesn’t care about revealing too much, because once the episode or show has aired, it’s fair game.
Netflix has set up a website where viewers can determine their type of spoiler. The site has a quiz on which spoilers are acceptable to share, including pivotal plot points from “House of Cards,” “Hunger Games” and “Breaking Bad.” Netflix also provides an e-card to share via Facebook or Twitter for those who feel guilty about spoiling their friend's viewing experience.
The Harris Poll surveyed more than 2,000 U.S. adults, 18 years or older between Aug. 6 to Aug. 8, 2014.
