Streaming platforms have been gaining more and more popularity recently.
Sure, there has been some negative news lately about how Netflix is losing subscribers because they plan to change certain policies, but mistakes of one service should not erase all that other streaming platforms have to offer.
Whether you are interested in music, live sports, movies, or TV shows, there should be a service offering you access to this media.
Having said that, streaming platforms are not necessarily all that great. Despite its advantages, there are some noticeable drawbacks as well.
In this article, we will cover 5 pros and cons of streaming services so that you become more familiar with the services.
Pro #1 – Content Available on the Go
Let’s start with the fact that you get access to content on the go. In other words, you only need an internet browser or a specific application on your device.
Most streaming services are available not just on computers but on mobile devices as well.
In some cases, watching content on a computer can be difficult because of file compatibility with the media player.
For instance, if you are on macOS, you might find that not all media files are playing on VLC or another media player, which means that you will need to find out what is vlc on mac or what its alternatives are when it comes to different file formats.
A hassle-free content consumption experience is one of the primary reasons why streaming platforms are so popular.
Pro #2 – No Advertisements
Not dealing with advertisements is another big reason behind people choosing to pay money for streaming services.
Sure, there are some exceptions. For instance, if you are watching sports, certain games will still have commercials during timeouts and such, but when it comes to movies and TV shows, you do not have to worry about that.
Pro #3 – Legal Alternative
Knowing that you are consuming media legally is somewhat underrated. There are illegal alternatives, such as torrenting and re-streaming without a license, but is it worth risking problems with authorities when you can do it legally? Probably not.
Pro #4 – No Worries About Storage Issues
The fact that you do not have to download media on your device to consume it is also worth a shout, particularly when we are talking about high-quality movies and TV shows.
Even music can take up a lot of space, particularly if you listen to a lot of different tracks.
Since the media is available on the go, there is no need to worry about looking for external storage solutions.
Pro #5 – Content Variety
Since there are multiple streaming platforms competing with one another, consumers benefit from the fact that these major corporations are doing their best to come up with new and original ideas for movies and TV shows.
Sure, there are plenty of examples of when a movie or a show is a miss rather than a hit, but given the variety in content, it is hard to imagine ever running out of stuff to watch.
And as more and more people join streaming platforms, we can expect to see the trend of content variety grow even more in the future.
Con #1 – Costs Money
We covered the pros, so it is time to discuss some of the drawbacks. The first thing that often comes to mind is the fact that you need to pay money for streaming platforms.
Despite the fact that they are legal, streaming services can be quite expensive, particularly if you wish to subscribe to multiple platforms to access all the content you wish.
Con #2 – Addiction to Content Consumption
If you get into the habit of watching too many movies or TV shows, it can be difficult to overcome the addiction.
The case is particularly common in streaming platforms that let you watch stuff without breaks, such as advertisements.
Just one more episode, just one more episode, and you end up spending the whole night watching the media.
Con #3 – Internet Connection Is Necessary
You will need an internet connection to enjoy the media. And if there are issues with the network, buffering is one of the issues you can expect to encounter.
If you are traveling and want to pass the time watching a movie or a TV show on Netflix, there are no guarantees that you will be able to enjoy it because of the poor internet.
Meanwhile, if you were to store the media on your device, you could watch it directly. This is one of the areas where streaming services are not always the best option.
Con #4 – Geo-Restricted Content Problems
Depending on where you live, there might be some geo-restricted content issues. Most networks have policies and copyright laws they have to follow, which means that some shows or movies are not available to certain countries.
There are ways to circumvent the issue, such as a virtual private network. However, it adds extra hassle and costs, which is not ideal.
Con #5 – Online Security
Online security might be a bit of a stretch, but you can still encounter certain issues regarding that if you are not careful.
Not all streaming platforms come with the necessary security protocols, which puts you, a user, in potential danger. Thus, be mindful of what you use.
What do you think about the pros and cons of streaming services? Let us know in the comment section below.
