Since streaming services do not need to abide by the same content restrictions as broadcast television, services like Netflix often including more sex, violence and cursing. But a new study released by The Truth Initiative — which compared seven popular Netflix shows to seven popular broadcast shows — found that Netflix’s sample shows featured characters smoking almost three times as often as those produced by networks like NBC, ABC and CBS. The organization behind the study thinks that this could lead more teenagers and young adults to smoking. “There has been a revolution in television that now encompasses a complex universe including Hulu, Netflix and an emerging world of on-demand platforms,” Robin Koval, Truth Initiative CEO, said in a news release, according to The Washington Post. “And while everybody was watching, but no one was paying attention, we’ve experienced a pervasive re-emergence of smoking imagery that is glamorizing and renormalizing a deadly habit to millions of impressionable young people.” Netflix has not specifically addressed the findings, but instead said that while “streaming entertainment is more popular than ever, we’re glad smoking is not. We’re interested to find out more about the study.” According to The Truth Initiative, Stranger Things was the biggest offender. The show contained 182 scenes featuring tobacco usage.
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