So I’ve been down a rabbit hole this week, sparked by a thread I stumbled across where someone had one of those “wait, how much am I actually spending on subscriptions?” moments. You know the feeling — you sit down, add it all up, and suddenly you’re staring at a number that makes you question your life choices. Netflix, Disney+, Prime, Spotify, maybe a Binge or Paramount+ thrown in for good measure… it adds up faster than you’d think.

An Italian court just ruled that Netflix unlawfully increased its prices, and consumers could be looking at refunds of up to 500 euros. Netflix, predictably, said they’ll appeal. And somewhere in a boardroom, I imagine a very expensive suit nodded slowly and said “of course we will.”

The online discussion this sparked has been fascinating — and honestly, a bit cathartic. Because a lot of us have been quietly stewing about this for years.

So researchers have just announced a new fibre optic record that could theoretically allow 50 million movies to be streamed simultaneously through a single cable. Fifty million. My brain genuinely struggles to wrap itself around that number. The comment sections online were predictably full of jokes — “finally, I can watch all the Saw movies at once” — and honestly, fair enough. Sometimes the absurdity of a headline just demands a bit of silliness.

Everything started with a simple thought: “I’ll just set up Plex on my NAS.” Famous last words. Looking back now, I can’t help but laugh at my naivety. That innocent decision has spiraled into what can only be described as a full-blown obsession with self-hosting and digital independence.

The catalyst was frustration with streaming services. Remember when Netflix was the only game in town? Now we’re expected to juggle half a dozen subscriptions just to watch our favourite shows. Even then, content appears and disappears at the whim of corporate licensing deals. It’s maddening.