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Netflix and chill

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Graffiti on a sign in front of Netflix Headquarters in Los Gatos, California.

Netflix and chill is an English language general 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 "sexual" by Fusion.[1] Much like selfie, use of the term has now spread beyond the internet and into general use.

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]

In June 2016, singer-songwriter Danah released a song titled "Netflix and Chill" on SoundCloud. The track was produced by Wippy Lion, a member of Australian pop group Justice Crew. The song is a tongue-in-cheek representation of the term's use in popular culture.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Roose, Kevin (27 August 2015). "'Netflix and chill': the complete history of a viral sex catchphrase". Fusion.net. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  2. ^ a b First recorded use of "Netflix and Chill" on twitter.com NoFaceNina [@nofacenina] (21 January 2009). "I'm about to log onto Netflix and chill for the rest of the night" (Tweet). Retrieved 2015-12-02 – via Twitter.
  3. ^ a b c d Rickett, Oscar (29 September 2015). "How 'Netflix and chill' became code for casual sex". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  4. ^ "Want to Netflix and chill? There's an app built especially for it". Daily Mirror. London. Retrieved 2015-12-10.
  5. ^ a b Golby, Joel (13 October 2015). "How to Do Netflix and Chill Properly". Vice. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  6. ^ Shepherd, Jack (September 25, 2015). "The very first Netflix and Chill festival is going ahead and Pope Francis is on the invite list". The Independent. London. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  7. ^ Brian, Matt (28 September 2015). "Netflix actually made a Netflix and Chill button, and you can too". Engadget. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  8. ^ O'Neil, Lauren (6 November 2015). "Somebody tagged a sign at Netflix headquarters with 'and chill'". CBC News. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  9. ^ Burns, Janet. "Dedicated 'Netflix And Chill' Suite On Airbnb Can Be Yours For $400 A Night". Forbes. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  10. ^ Papisova, Vera. "Netflix Is the Key to Long-Term Relationships, Survey Says". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 2016-02-14.
  11. ^ Netflix (February 13, 2016). "What happens when you fall in love over Jessica Jones... #DatingWithNetflix". Facebook. Retrieved 2016-02-14.
  12. ^ YKIGS (July 4, 2016). "New Music: Danah – Netflix & Chill". YouKnowIGotSoul.com. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
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