Is Second Screen Viewing ruining cinema?

It's movie night. You grab your popcorn and candy, wrap yourself in a blancket, and sit down in your comfiest chair. The lights go down. You get ten minutes in and are starting to get bored. And so, out comes the second screen.

At a time when we're all questioning our attachment to our phones, it's hard not to wonder: is second screen viewing ruining cinema?

The "second screen" can be any device, such as a phone, a laptop, or a tablet, which a person uses while watching another piece of media. The use of a second screen while watching a movie has become increasingly common. Because of this, companies like Netflix have been altering their scripts and editing techniques so that their stories can be easily understood while using a second screen.

An example of this type of editing is in The Substance. When Elisabeth sees an older man in a restaurant, she realizes that he is the same man who told her about The Substance because she recognizes a birthmark on his hand. The film cuts back to the man when she met him in the hospital. Many viewers argue that this was unneeded as his birthmark is very regonizable.

This editing technique can even be found in Oscar winners like Sinners, but it also can be seen in films that came out long before second screens, such as in The Birds. The technique is nothing new, and I'd argue that it works in The Substance as it's meant to be an over-the-top satire.

Some cinephiles argue that if you watch a film while doing something else, you aren't truly watching it. While this makes sense, I'd argue that there are several activities that you can do without losing focus like doodling or knitting. However, I understand that there are many tasks that take a person's whole attention and thus should not be done if you really want to experience a movie.

Second screen viewing, in my opinion, is a complicated issue. While it might be concerning that stories are becoming simplified to cater to those who aren't paying attention, we live in a world of constant distractions. It can be hard to just put the phone down.

If you find you find yourself checking your DMs during your next movie night, ask yourself "are these messages more valuble than the movie?" If the answer is "yes" it might be time to switch to something else.