What is netflix are you still watching meme?

This message was quicky adopted into meme culture, and has changed over time to have a different connotation than what was originally intended by the media streaming platform. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.

The “Netflix: are you still watching?” expression is typically used as a meme that references somewhat sexual allusions. It indicates that someone turned on Netflix and then went off to do something else. It was adopted from the “Netflix and Chill” meme that came before it, and has more or less the same meaning that that phrase has.

This phrase is most commonly used by young adults and teenagers. It can be sexually explicit at times, so caution should be used when deciding who to make a “Netflix: are you still watching?” reference to. More information can be found in the video (here).

“I put Netflix on in the background while I was cleaning the house. Netflix: are you still watching?”

“I’ve had the same TV show playing on Netflix for three hours. Netflix: are you still watching?”

“I forgot I had Netflix on when I started talking to my friend on the phone an hour ago. Netflix: are you still watching?”

The media-streaming company Netflix was created in 1997. Thousands of people pay monthly to enjoy watching movies and television shows on the site. But over the years, the site has been the subject of various different memes that have become popular on the Internet.

“Netflix and Chill”, which was the first Netflix-focused meme, emerged in late 2014. It was primarily seen on sites like Twitter, but could be found all over social media, including Reddit or Facebook. It had great success with teens and young adults, and as a result, the spin off of “Netflix: are you still watching?” was created in 2016. It gained mass popularity starting in 2018, as a result of popular memes and TikTok clips that used it. Today, this phrase is still used all over social media, like Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram.

“Netflix: are you still watching?” is used to refer to putting Netflix on in the background and then doing something else, long enough that Netflix asks you “are you still watching?”. Attempting to use this phrase when you are actively using the streaming site would be incorrect. Some ways that “Netflix: are you still watching?” is used incorrectly are:

Netflix: Are You Still Watching? Someone's Daughter: refers to a series of image macros jokingly implying that when Netflix's "Are you still watching?" message comes up on the screen, someone's daughter is busy performing sexual acts on another person that they are Netflix and chilling with, illustrated through a funny image from another media property that looks sexual without its proper context. The meme first appeared in 2018 and spread over the following years.

On March 15th, 2018, iFunny[2] user NineLivesVibes posted an image macro with the text "Netflix: 'Are you still watching … ?' Me and someone's daughter:" with a video of Donkey Kong, Wario and Diddy Kong from Super Smash Bros. clapping, meant to reference a clapping sound that might be present during sex, gaining over 83,700 smiles in three years. The meme was originally taken from Instagram[1] page hoodclips on an unknown date, which has since been deleted. It was posted to YouTube on the same day, gaining over 453,000 views in three years (shown below). On July 2nd it was posted to Instagram[3] page nocap, gaining over 258,000 views.

The format became increasingly popular over the course of 2019 as people made image macros using the same phrase. For example, on September 16th, 2019, Instagram[4] page halotheorist117 posted a Halo-themed version of the meme, gaining over 4,000 likes in two years (shown below, left). On December 18th, Instagram[5] page HumorHub posted a version of the meme with Danny Devito as Frank in It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia with milk pouring out his mouth, gaining over 10,600 likes in two years (shown below, right).

The format grew in popularity throughout 2020. On January 21st, 2020, Facebook[7] page MrTechnicalDifficult posted a version of the meme showing a woman getting sprayed in the face by champagne, gaining over 16,000 reactions and 5,000 shares in just under two years (shown below, left). On November 19th, Facebook[8] page Superhero Fanverse posted a version of the meme using an imace of Cell from Dragon Ball Z with white saliva dripping from his mouth, gaining over 26,000 shares and 69,000 reactions in a year (shown below, right).

On December 21st, 2020, TikToker[6] @climaxbink posted a video of a submarine in Grand Theft Auto V going into a small tunnel with the caption overtop, gaining over 1.2 million views in 11 months (shown below).

On October 16th, 2021, Facebook[9] page Spongebob memes posted a version of the meme showing Mr. Krabs getting squirted in the eyes, gaining over 17,000 shares and 37,000 reactions in two weeks (shown below).