Sartre vs. Netflix: Finding meaning in an age of endless distraction

In the quiet glow of our screens, a familiar dilemma unfolds. Netflix, with its infinite library, presents us with a paradox of choice: so many options, yet a creeping sense of emptiness. We scroll, we select, we consume, often letting the algorithm guide us into a comfortable stupor. This modern ritual stands in stark contrast to the radical ideas of philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, who argued that we are the sole authors of our own lives. He believed that true meaning isn’t found or consumed, but actively created through our choices and actions. This article explores the tension between the passive consumption offered by the digital age and the existentialist call to forge our own purpose. Can Sartre’s philosophy offer a lifeline in our sea of distraction?

The seductive comfort of the algorithm

There’s a reason we fall so easily into a binge-watching session. Platforms like Netflix are designed to eliminate friction and, with it, the burden of choice. The “Because you watched…” feature is more than a helpful suggestion; it’s a gentle nudge towards a pre-packaged identity. It offers us an essence before we’ve had to struggle for it. “You’re the kind of person who likes dark Scandinavian noir,” the algorithm whispers, and in that moment, it feels good to be known and catered to.

Sartre would call this temptation a form of “bad faith” (mauvaise foi). Bad faith is the act of deceiving ourselves to escape the terrifying reality of our own freedom and responsibility. When we let an algorithm dictate our evening, our interests, or our mood, we are essentially offloading our freedom. We are pretending we are a fixed object, a “type” of viewer, rather than a dynamic being capable of choosing anything. The result is a temporary relief from the pressure of existence, but it often leaves a hollow aftertaste. We have spent hours consuming, but have we truly lived?

“Existence precedes essence”: You are what you do

At the heart of Sartre’s philosophy is the revolutionary idea that “existence precedes essence.” This simply means that we are not born with a predefined nature, purpose, or soul (essence). We are first and foremost born into the world (existence). It is only through our subsequent actions, choices, and commitments that we define who we are. You are not inherently brave; you become brave by performing brave acts. You are not a “cinephile” by nature; you become one by actively engaging with and choosing films.

This directly challenges the Netflix model. The algorithm works on the opposite principle: essence precedes existence. It analyzes your past behavior (your essence) to predict and shape your future existence (what you will watch next). While efficient, this system bypasses the very process of self-creation. True discovery doesn’t come from being told what you might like. It comes from the deliberate, and sometimes risky, act of choosing for yourself, of trying something you might hate, of stepping outside the comfortable bubble of algorithmic recommendations.

The anguish of radical freedom

If we are entirely responsible for creating our own meaning, the weight of that responsibility can be crushing. Sartre claimed we are “condemned to be free.” We did not choose to be born, but now that we are here, we are responsible for every single choice we make, without excuse. This realization leads to a profound sense of angoisse, or anguish. The blank canvas of an unscheduled Saturday afternoon isn’t just an opportunity; it’s a terrifying void we are responsible for filling meaningfully.

Herein lies the profound appeal of endless distraction. The infinite scroll and the auto-playing next episode are perfect anesthetics for existential anguish. They offer a structured, passive, and low-stakes way to pass the time, shielding us from the difficult questions: What should I be doing with my life? What truly matters to me? It is far easier to let a stream of curated content wash over us than to confront the silence and make a choice that defines us. Choosing to finally write that first chapter, learn that difficult chord on the guitar, or have a vulnerable conversation with a loved one is hard. It’s an act of creation. Pressing “Next Episode” is an act of consumption. One builds a self; the other merely passes the time.

From passive consumer to active creator

So, how do we apply these weighty philosophical ideas without smashing our televisions? The goal isn’t to reject technology, but to engage with it consciously, using our freedom rather than fleeing from it. We can reclaim our agency from the algorithm by shifting from passive consumers to active creators of our own experience.

Here are a few Sartrean approaches to modern life:

• Practice conscious consumption. Don’t just turn on Netflix and see what it serves you. Treat it like a library. Go in with an intention. Ask yourself: “Why do I want to watch something right now? What kind of story or feeling am I looking for?” Choose a film or series deliberately, watch it, and then turn the screen off. Let it be a distinct event, not a continuous drip of content.
• Commit to a “project.” For Sartre, we define ourselves through our projects. A project is any forward-looking commitment that organizes our actions over time. It doesn’t have to be monumental. Your project could be training for a 5k, mastering the art of sourdough, keeping a daily journal, or volunteering in your community. A project gives shape and purpose to your freedom, transforming empty time into a meaningful pursuit.
• Embrace the world beyond the screen. The ultimate antidote to digital escapism is engagement with reality. Sartre’s philosophy is one of action. This means seeking out experiences that are unmediated and unpredictable. Have dinner with friends, visit a museum, take a walk without your phone, or join a local club. These actions root us in the tangible world, where true self-creation happens.

The conflict between Sartre and Netflix is not about good versus bad, but about active versus passive living. The seductive ease of digital distraction offers an escape from the awesome responsibility of being free. It lets us live in “bad faith,” pretending we are simply consumers waiting to be fed the next piece of content. Sartre’s philosophy, however, calls us to a more difficult but infinitely more rewarding path: to embrace our freedom, to bear the anguish of choice, and to actively build a life of meaning, one deliberate action at a time. The remote control is in our hands, a potent symbol of our radical freedom. The most important choice is not what to watch, but when to turn it off and begin to live.

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