If streaming unbundled the content, the algorithm rebundled our attention . In the absence of a human TV programmer or a record store clerk, the machine learned our desires faster than we could articulate them.
The consequence is a flattening of narrative depth. Long-form media (novels, prestige dramas, feature films) is now in an existential war with "ambient content"—the endless scroll of podcasts, reaction videos, and Twitch streams that require just enough cognitive load to keep you from thinking your own thoughts. Nubiles.24.04.15.Novella.Night.Tiny.Cutie.XXX.1...
Suddenly, the streetlights flickered. The ambient jazz music warped, slowing down into a demonic growl. The NPCs froze, their faces resetting to blank stares. If streaming unbundled the content, the algorithm rebundled
Mark Zuckerberg’s "metaverse" may have stumbled out of the gate, but the concept isn't going away. Spatial computing (Apple’s Vision Pro) promises to decouple entertainment from the rectangle of the phone screen. Popular media will become an environment you inhabit rather than a narrative you watch . Concerts will be holographic. Television shows will take place in your living room, with characters who remember your previous conversations. Long-form media (novels, prestige dramas, feature films) is
The final evolution is the collapse of linear time. Eventually, AI agents will watch content for you, summarize it, and tell you how to feel about it in 10 seconds, so you can rejoin the social conversation without wasting 10 hours on a boring series. Entertainment content will become a purely social utility—it's not about the story anymore, but about having the right opinion about the story to fit in with your peer group.
While we have more choices, the "watercooler moment"—where everyone watches the same show at the same time—is becoming rarer, replaced by viral social media trends that peak and fade within days. The Power of Representation and Global Media