Black Mirror's 'Joan Is Awful' Sparks Real-Life Worry Over Netflix's Terms and Conditions Google searches for Netflix's terms and conditions spiked following the release of Black Mirror season 6.

By Sam Silverman

Opinions expressed by BIZ Experiences contributors are their own.

Nick Wall/Netflix
Still image from Joan Is Awful.

Netflix's Black Mirror is known for making us rethink our reliance on technology, and Season 6, which was released on June 15, is no different.

Episode one, titled "Joan Is Awful," is about a woman whose daily life was turned into a show after not realizing she agreed to it by signing a streamer's lengthy terms and conditions contract, which then sparked concern amongst viewers about the ramifications of not reading the fine print.

Just three days after the show debuted, Google searches for "Netflix terms and conditions" increased by 596 percent, according to Casino Alpha, an independent online casino reviewer that reviews and analyzes hundreds of internet data.

"Without triggering any spoiler alerts, it is clear that despite today's awareness of data privacy concerns being higher than ever, it is so easy to forget that terms and conditions are, in fact, a contract," Casino Alpha's CEO Tudor Turiceanu said in a statement. "Companies know that realistically, very few will sit there and read the T&Cs carefully, though clearly, as the data we analyzed shows, many became more aware of them following Black Mirror's first episode."

Rest assured, agreeing to Netflix's actual terms and conditions doesn't authorize the streamer to turn our lives into CGI-generated dramas.

However, in honor of the new season, Netflix has released a unique experience called "You Are Awful," where fans can upload a photo of themselves and be "the star of the show" on Streamberry — the mock streamer shown in the series. Those who participate must agree to a nine-page Terms of Use and Privacy Statement similar to Joan's that gives Netflix the right to use your name and likeness in promotional material around the experience.

While the document doesn't enable you to be subjected to a Netflix drama about your life, the experience illustrates the importance of reading the small print.

Netflix has since been sharing the faux-promotional material on Twitter.
Sam Silverman

Content Strategy Editor

Sam Silverman is a content strategy editor at BIZ Experiences Media. She specializes in search engine optimization (SEO), and her work can be found in The US Sun, Nicki Swift, In Touch Weekly, Life & Style and Health. She writes for our news team with a focus on investigating scandals. Her coverage and expertise span from business news, BIZ Experiencesship, technology, and true crime, to the latest in entertainment and TV news. Sam is a graduate of Lehigh University and currently resides in NYC. 

Want to be an BIZ Experiences Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Most Popular

See all
Starting a Business

These Brothers Started a Business to Improve an Everyday Task. They Made Their First Products in the Garage — Now They've Raised Over $100 Million.

Coulter and Trent Lewis had an early research breakthrough that helped them solve for the right problem.

By Amanda Breen
Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for BIZ Experiencess to pursue in 2025.

By Eve Gumpel
Franchise

How to Prepare Your Business — And Yourself — For a Smooth Exit

After decades of building your business, turning it over to someone else can be emotional. But with the right mindset and a strong plan, it can also be your proudest moment.

By Ray Titus
Data & Recovery

We Found Four of the Top Alternatives to Dropbox That Don't Have Monthly Subscription Fees

All last for life, and not one of them is more than $200.

By BIZ Experiences Store
Franchise

10 No-Office-Required Businesses You Can Start for as Little as $5,000

With strong Franchise 500 rankings and investment levels starting under $5,000, these brands are ready for new owners to hit the ground running.

By Carl Stoffers
Business News

Here Are the 10 Jobs AI Is Most Likely to Automate, According to a Microsoft Study

These careers are most likely to be affected by generative AI, based on data from 200,000 conversations with Microsoft's Copilot chatbot.

By Sherin Shibu