No relationship is safe. According to a new study* released today by Netflix, over half (52%) of viewers in Asia have “cheated” on their significant other, higher than the global average of 46%! In fact, 43% of the Filipino viewers are actually cheaters, which is not so far off the global average. But with this number of cheaters who have admitted to watching ahead of their partners, the Philippines has the most loyal viewers in the region with 57% non-cheaters.
Defined as watching a TV show ahead of your significant other, Netflix cheating was first uncovered in a study in the U.S. in 2013, which found 12% of Americans admitting to streaming infidelity. Four years later, watching together has become a worldwide phenomenon, and Pinoy fans have also caught on this trend.
In a binge-watching world where it’s easy to say ‘just one more,’ Netflix cheating has quickly become the new normal.
WHERE IS CHEATING HAPPENING? (EVERYWHERE)
Unsurprisingly, cheating happens all over the world–though it varies a bit by country. Globally speaking, most cheaters are found in Mexico and Brazil, where 58% of streaming couples have cheated. In Asia, Hong Kong (59%) and India (46%) lead the pack of cheaters.
Meanwhile, the most loyal viewers in the world are in Netherlands (73% have not cheated), Germany (65%) and Poland (60%).
WHAT SHOWS ARE WE CHEATING WITH? (ALL OF THEM)
People in APAC cheat on all types of shows. While Singaporeans cheat on drama, most Filipino cheaters, 88% of them, stream TV shows to spend more time together, and their go-to genre of choice is comedy (78%), just like in India and South Korea. But hey, if it’s your favorite, it must mean you can’t get enough of it, right? Because among all the genres available, comedy has the highest percentage (45%) of the type of show cheaters cheat with, followed by Sci-Fi/Fantasy and Horror (40% each). Pinoy cheaters just can’t seem to get enough of Jane the Virgin and Arrow, while the top show temptations in APAC are Gossip Girl, Star Trek, Stranger Things and Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories.
WHY DO WE CHEAT? (WE JUST CAN’T HELP IT)
Most don’t plan to cheat, it just happens. In fact, 83% of cheating in APAC is unplanned. As for triggers, shows are just so good we can’t stop bingeing (60% in APAC). In fact once you’ve cheated, you’re likely to do it again: 81% of cheaters globally are repeat offenders and 44% have cheated 3+ times. In the Philippines, most cheaters give in to the temptation of their uncontrollable pleasures. 73% of the cheaters say that the shows are too good to stop watching.
For them, cheating isn’t really a big deal, so they have no reservations of actually doing it. Asked if it’s worse than forgetting an anniversary or having an actual affair, 36% of the cheaters answered that cheating is not bad at all! To make things even more controversial, a whopping 55% of Filipino users would cheat if they could get away with it. Apparently, they aren’t as goody two shoes after all!!
HOW DO WE CHEAT? (ANY WAY WE CAN)
Sleep with one eye open: 25% of cheating happens when one partner falls asleep. But whether this is even cheating is hotly debated. Half of consumers say “sleep cheating” doesn’t count (46% in APAC) but the morality of “sleep cheating” varies across the globe. It’s a different thing altogether here in the Philippines since cheating is no biggie for the Filipinos. No intricate strategies, no sneaking around. Majority of the cheaters (72%) do it when they’re home alone. Easy peasy, right?
IS MY PARTNER A CHEATER? (SPOILER ALERT: MOST LIKELY)
Cheating has become more socially acceptable, with 32% in APAC saying it’s “not bad at all.” Unless, of course, you live in Hong Kong, where 40% think watching ahead of your partner is worse than having an actual affair. While 80% in Hong Kong and Japan would do it more if they could get away with it, relatively fewer people here in the Philippines (55%) would cheat if they wouldn’t get caught. However, don’t expect your partner to own up to their cheating since 39% in APAC never confess. In fact, only 43% of cheaters in the Philippines have admitted they cheat.
Curious about the cheating epidemic in the Philippines? Click here. Find more about what kind of cheater you are here. Check out this video guide on how to get away with cheating. Guilty? Check out Michael Bolton’s video to learn how to say sorry in languages around the world.
For more on Netflix cheating, go to netflixcheating.com.
Karina is not your ordinary supermom. She juggles her time bonding with her three amazing kids while being in the loop on the latest happenings in the tech and lifestyle scene. Follow me on Instagram (@digitalfilipina) regularly visit www.digitalfilipina.com for daily dose of updates not just for moms but for everyone!
