Data shows that Netflix shows are shaping “mainstream culture.” 

Data shows that Netflix shows are shaping “mainstream culture.” Pre-pandemic, Netflix was already an essential part of people’s lives with their original regularly landing at the top of Gen Z and Millennials’ favorite rankings. But things ramped up for the streamer once COVID hit. According to the company, they added 25.86 million subscribers in the first half of 2020—and closed out the year with over 195 million subscribers. Pulsar’s data found that if a show becomes popular on the platform, it creates “a surge in conversations around the topics the show is covering.” Shows like sports docuseries The Last Dance increased people’s interest in basketball legend Michael Jordan, true crime docuseries Tiger King brought more attention to big cats, and The Queen’s Gambit caused chess board sales to surge. (TNW)