Who knew Netflix could take a joke after its own show creates a mock streaming service to make fun of it? It appears that the streaming giant decided to just steer into the skid as it creates a real streaming site called "Streamberry" based on the hit "Black Mirror" episode.
Netflix's Streamberry Website
The first episode of the latest season of "Black Mirror" was a hit due to its obvious parody of Netflix. The protagonist of the episode played by Annie Murphy finds her life turned upside down as Streamberry creates a show based on her life in real time.
In the episode, Netflix, or rather Streamberry is depicted as an evil company that exploits its users and actors by counting on the fact that they don't read the Terms and Conditions before they accept, which appears when a user signs up on the service.
Instead of crying about it, Netflix took the opportunity to reel in more views by creating an exact replica of the show's streaming service. Streamberry.tv also uses title cards from the previous episodes of "Black Mirror," just as it did on the "Joan is Awful" episode.
Upon opening the website, you'll be able to recognize the titles showing scenes from the show such as "Five Stars at a Wedding," which is actually an episode called "Nosedive," or "Finding Ritman" which is from the interactive show "Bandersnatch."
Although, Netflix is not stopping there. It has already launched a website called youareawful.com, wherein users can upload their own selfies and live the traumatizing life of Joan as they become a subject on the Streamberry show.
Upon opening the website, the "S" for Streamberry even appears in Netflix's font. To sign up, the site will ask for the name of the user. The next step will require a photo upload, wherein the site states that the uploader could even end up on a billboard.
The Episode Has a Point (Spoilers Ahead)
Watching the episode made people wary of Terms and Conditions contracts, which is probably the episode's intention. It sheds light on not only how people skim through a binding document, but how AI is also affecting the entertainment industry, as mentioned by Tech Crunch.
In the episode, Streamberry depicts the life of the titular character in a show starring Salma Hayek, only it's not really the actress. Instead, the fictional streaming service is only using Hayek's likeness through CGI.
Joan, looking for a legal loophole with her lawyer to sue Streamberry, said that the contract she accepted was "watertight" so there was really nothing to do. Other than the issues with not reading contracts and AI taking over jobs, the episode also highlights the lack of privacy.
It was revealed that the fictional streaming company was able to keep tabs on her the way the ad industry does. If you talk or search online about, let's say leather handbags, then your social media platforms will be riddled with ads for that same item.
