If you’ve already tuned in to The Goop Lab with Gwyneth Paltrow on Netflix then you may have either found the show to be revealing and inspiring, or problematic and worrisome. Regardless of which side of the fence you fall on, it raises the question of whether Netflix should be so actively promoting any show that heavily leans on what is essentially alternative medicine. Especially considering there appears to be a Netflix pattern developing here.
The Goop Lab made its debut on Netflix on January 24th. The show looks to provide information on various alternative wellbeing techniques and options. Some of those listed in the show's description include psychedelics, cold therapy, and energy healing. While this is a TV show, the problem arises when the production is centered around giving the topics discussed more legitimacy than what the medical and scientific world currently does. This point is not lost on Netflix either, as each episode of The Goop Lab starts with a clear disclaimer stating the content is “designed to entertain and inform - not provide medical advice.” This alone highlights that Netflix is aware of the implications of promoting a show as medical-based, and yet that appears to be exactly what it is doing.
Since the show went live, it’s been slammed on IMDb where it is currently rated 1.6 out of 10 by users with the overwhelming number of reviews highlighting their disappointment in Netflix making a “pseudoscience” and “infomercial” show. However, this appears to be an issue that goes well beyond The Goop Lab. An article in Wired recently highlighted that this is not the only Netflix documentary that takes a “dubious approach to science.” With this appearing to be a trend for Netflix now, the question has to be asked of whether a service of Netflix’s grandeur should be using its platform (and subscriber fees) to deliver alternative medical content to a targeted audience.
To be clear, Netflix is an entertainment company, and like any other entertainment companies, Netflix is free to put out shows on whatever content it wants. However, Netflix has the potential to reach a significant number of people. This does change the game slightly, especially when it is positioning content as factual and not fiction. Not to mention, this comes at a time when many other tech companies are being held accountable for the content they allow on their platform. For example, Facebook has recently come under fire for allowing anti-vax ads on its service. In that case, Facebook was only displaying an ad. That’s hardly as bad as commissioning a multi-episode show. Surely, if Facebook comes under pressure for an ad, then Netflix must also be held accountable for its content?
While some have raised concerns about other similar shows on the platform, the issue becomes even more problematic with The Goop Lab as that it is a Netflix-made show. That’s an important distinction as many of the other shows that have drawn comparison were made outside of Netflix’s direction and influence. Netflix was simply hosting those shows, not making them. However, Netflix is now ramping up its own productions and the more shows it commissions like this, the more controversy and criticism the service will receive.
There’s nothing wrong with putting out a show like this, but one of the real questionable mistakes Netflix has made is to not include any competing views. There are many people who do believe in the validity of the techniques discussed. Therefore, taking a closer look for the sake of informing people is ultimately a good thing. However, when the narrative of the show is completely designed to positively promote those techniques without any critical viewpoints being offered, then it does become clear the show is not trying to take a factual look at the industry. The series appears instead to be solely designed to promote a highly controversial industry, and that’s probably not the best way for Netflix to go about spending subscription fees.
Source: Wired
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