Netflix and chill
Netflix and chill is an English language slang term using an invitation to watch Netflix together as a euphemism for sex, either between partners or casually as a booty call. Since its first recorded, non-sexual use in a tweet posted in 2009,[1][2] the term has gained popularity within the Twitter community and other social media sites such as Facebook and Vine. By 2015, Netflix and chill had become an internet meme, with its use in teenage social media described as "inescapable" by Fusion.[1] Much like Selfie, use of the term has now spread beyond the internet and into general use.
Contents
History
Origins
The first recorded use of the phrase "Netflix and chill" was in a tweet posted by "NoFaceNina" in January 2009.[1][2] Early use of the phrase was without sexual connotations, referring simply to the act of watching the online streaming service, typically by oneself.[3] By 2013, Netflix’s popularity in the US had risen greatly, having accumulated millions of paid subscribers, increasing verb use of the brand and this phrase as a standalone compound noun.
The euphemistic nature of the phrase is believed to have been established in mid-2014,[3] and by the end of the year had spread throughout the African American Black Twitter community, as seen by many now typing chill within scare quotes. In April 2015, a definition of the phrase was added to Urban Dictionary stating that it meant "code for two people going to each other's houses and [have sexual intercourse] or doing other sexual related acts."[1][3] Soon, the term would spread beyond Black Twitter, becoming an internet meme, gaining the attention of news websites such as The Guardian[3] and the Daily Mirror.[4]
Among the jokes and image macros made by online users, many would feature the phrase "20 minutes into Netflix and chill", coupled with a reaction image suggesting the true ulterior motive.[citation needed]
Impact
As the phrase entered into common lexicon, events, products, and services associated with the phrase—including condoms—started to emerge, and acknowledgement from Netflix itself appeared.[5]
In September 2015, a joke app in the style of Tinder had been created for users to organize "Netflix and chill" sessions.[5] At two separate universities, students planned "Netflix and chill" festivals, with one being cancelled by authorities as they believed too many people would be in attendance.[6] During the World Maker Faire in New York, Netflix unveiled a prototype for a large button called "The Switch", which, when pressed, will dim the lights in the users' residence, activate the "Do Not Disturb" feature on their cell phones, and prepare Netflix for streaming—eliminating most distractions from their activities. This has been frequently referred to as the "Netflix and chill button".[7]
In November 2015, the Netflix logo outside the company's headquarters in Los Gatos, California had been spray-painted to add the words "and chill".[8]
In January 2016, artist Tom Galle and company ART404 created a "Netflix & Chill Room" in New York City for rent on Airbnb.[9]
In early February 2016, Netflix released the results of a survey on how users in relationships use their service, described as a "Netflix and chill study".[10] The results were accompanied with a series of social media posts with the hashtag "#DatingWithNetflix" promoting the idea of a positive impact for couples using the service.[11]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 First recorded use of "Netflix and Chill" on twitter.com Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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