Streaming Infidelity: Do Americans “Stream Cheat” on Their Partners?

In the age of streaming, where binge-watching has become a beloved pastime, a phenomenon has emerged to disrupt some couples’ TV rituals: streaming infidelity.

At its core, streaming infidelity, also known as “stream cheating,” refers to secretly progressing further in a TV series without your partner. It’s the overwhelming urge to press play on the next episode without your SO and unravel plot twists and turns while they remain blissfully unaware.

We surveyed couples all over the country to see if they “stream cheat” on their partners, if it’s acceptable, and what other TV-watching habits bother them the most. Read on to see what we uncovered!

When Is It Okay to “Stream Cheat” on Your Partner?

According to our study, when Americans skip ahead in a TV show they’re watching with their partner, their reactions vary. Out of those surveyed, 59% admitted to giving into temptation and skipping ahead, but informed their partner and later re-watched the episode together.

On the other hand, 19% confessed their stream-cheating sins and admitted to skipping ahead and choosing not to re-watch the episode, while an additional 19% discreetly snuck in a few extra episodes and acted as if nothing happened, simply re-watching it alongside their partner and pretending to be surprised.

But when is it appropriate to stream-cheat on your partner? Our survey found some intriguing scenarios. An impressive 56% of Americans believe it’s okay to skip ahead if their partner isn’t enjoying the show as much as they are. Additionally, 50% of respondents feel justified in stream-cheating when their partner is “too busy” to keep up with the latest episodes. After all, the show must go on!

And let’s not forget the classic scenario: your partner dozing off during a particularly riveting scene. The study reveals that 42% of Americans find it acceptable to watch ahead while their partner catches some Z’s during the show. In their defense, it can be too tempting when there’s a cliffhanger begging to be resolved.

Interestingly, we also found that the TV genre influences stream-cheating behavior. When asked which genres are most likely to entice them into skipping ahead, respondents shared their guilty pleasures. 

For 21% of Americans, the allure of a captivating drama is just too strong to resist. Another 20% confess to succumbing to the charms of a comedy series, and let’s not forget about the intense allure of reality TV shows, which reel in 18% of stream-cheaters.

Men tend to be more tempted to skip ahead while watching a comedy (24%), whereas women find it harder to resist the urge during a gripping drama (25%).

How Else Do Americans Annoy Their Partners When Watching TV?

While watching TV with your partner can be a romantic bonding experience, we all have our little habits that can sometimes irk our significant others. From succumbing to the dark side of spoilers to falling asleep during the most thrilling scenes, here are some insights into how Americans manage to annoy their partners while enjoying their favorite shows.

Spoiler alert! It turns out that 1 in 5 Americans (20%) can’t resist the temptation of looking up spoilers for the TV shows they’re watching with their partners. Interestingly, women (26%) are slightly more likely to engage in this sneak-peeking behavior than their male counterparts (15%).

Spoiling the show for yourself is one thing, but ruining it for your partner? We found that 14% of Americans would share their findings with their partner, spoiling the surprise for them as well.

But beware, if you’re thinking of spoiling the show for someone else, sharing a spoiler can have dire consequences — another 63% of Americans admit they would be genuinely upset if their partner were to spoil a TV show or movie for them.

While spoilers provide one facet of annoyance, other habits can irk partners during TV time. The most shared nuisances include partners falling asleep while watching TV shows (38%), being glued to their phones instead of the screen (36%), and the classic constant barrage of questions (17%). 

Let’s face it; it’s challenging to get into a show when someone is snoring through a gripping climax or asking questions faster than the speed of light. So, if you find yourself guilty of these habits, take a moment to reflect and show some TV-watching courtesy.

Closing Thoughts

Trust, communication, and a healthy dose of laughter are the cornerstones of every relationship, even when navigating the treacherous waters of TV temptations. While stream-cheating may add a sprinkle of excitement to our day-to-day binge-watching rituals, it’s essential to remember the true gems that bind us together.

Speaking of gems, Shane Co. understands the importance of celebrating those connections with our exquisite collection of engagement rings and fine jewelry.

Just as a well-written TV series or movie piques our interest and keeps us invested, we design each piece of jewelry to capture the essence of your unique love story. From stunning engagement rings that symbolize a lifetime of shared adventures to exquisite fine jewelry that embodies your enduring commitment, Shane Co. provides the perfect styles to commemorate the milestones of your relationship.

Methodology

To learn more about how many Americans practice “streaming infidelity,” we surveyed over 1,000 people currently living with their partners as of June 2023. We asked questions about watching a TV show with their partner regularly, such as whether or not they will watch it without them, when it is appropriate to skip ahead, and what other annoying TV-watching habits their partners have.