Parents Television Council says Netflix needs to ‘take off its own blindfold’ over ‘Bird Box’ viral challenge

Jan 08, 2019

The Parents Television Council has a message for Netflix: Take off your blindfold.

• The conservative watchdog group said in a statement (called “Netflix’s ‘Bird Box’ warning means it must take off its own blindfold”) this week that Netflix’s decision to warn viewers against doing the “Bird Box” challenge — in which participants wear a blindfold while participating in daily activities — “proves the company’s blatant double standard regarding the potential harm that its programming can have on viewers.”

• “Netflix can no longer pretend that its programming doesn’t impact the behavior of its viewers. While we applaud the company’s reluctant warning, it simultaneously serves as an admission that its program content does, in fact, create a potential harm to viewers,” PTC President Tim Winter said in the statement.

• Winter said he hopes Netflix will stop marketing and distributing content that can be harmful to children, such as “13 Reasons Why.”

• “It is time for Netflix to show real concern for children and families. The company can do so by unequivocally and affirmatively removing its own self-made blindfold about the impact its program content can have on viewers — especially children.”

Flashback: As I reported this week, the challenge became an internet sensation. Several people tweeted photos and videos of themselves participating in the viral challenge.

Reaction: Netflix warned viewers not to participate in the challenge since it can be dangerous. One video showed a young toddler walk into a wall while wearing a blindfold.

• “Can’t believe I have to say this, but: PLEASE DO NOT HURT YOURSELVES WITH THIS ‘BIRD BOX’ CHALLENGE. We don’t know how this started, and we appreciate the love, but Boy and Girl have just one wish for 2019 and it is that you not end up in the hospital due to memes,” according to Netflix’s statement.