The term cutting the cord has a whole new meaning. Whereas it used to refer to our relationships with others, it now has a more literal interpretation.

Millions of people have made the move around the world, but those who are change-averse are still hesitating. They see it as stepping off a cliff into the abyss of the unknown. The reality is that it can be very liberating.

Have you cut the cord?

The second you started using a cell phone instead of your fixed landline, you’d already cut one cord. Once everyone had realized how convenient it was, the cell phone took off. It’s descendant, the smartphone has changed the way people live their lives today. Hardly anyone talks on their landline anymore, preferring instead to call from their cell phones, text, or interact on social media.

So, what does cutting the cord mean? While you could choose to interpret it narrowly, it has a wider meaning. It means leaving certain practices in the past and using new ones in the future. 

For example, when people started using cars instead of horses and carriages, they were cutting the cord. It was probably a bit scary at first, but today the motor vehicle reigns supreme as the preferred mode of land transport.

The next act of cutting the cord

The latest cutting of the cord that people are starting to embrace is streaming tv instead of having conventional cable services. Most people have become so accustomed to having cable in their home that the idea of abandoning it seems ludicrous. But it is precisely what hundreds of households are doing each day.

What the advocates for cutting the cord say:

When you use a television streaming service, you have access to a lot of content. Instead of waiting for one of your cable channels to air the movie you want to see, the streaming service has it on demand.

Fewer people are sitting down to watch television daily. And a lot of people complain that cable television channels are full of commercials, repetitions, and behind on release dates. Others don’t want to wait a week to see the latest episode of a series. They prefer to binge watch it when they have time.

What do its detractors say?

If you’re going to cut the cord, be prepared to spend some money. You can only access a streaming service if your television set is compatible. 

The Apple TV is an example of what you’d need. Next, you’ll have to subscribe to a streaming service. There are several different services to choose between, and you might want to use more than one. Subscription rates vary. Deciding on more than one streaming service can wind up costing more than your cable subscription.

But are they right? Technically they are, but there are no contracts with the streaming services, so you are free to cancel and re-subscribe at any time. You’ll have to manage all your subscriptions you must know the terms and conditions each provider has for cancellations.

So, what are you going to do?

Before you decide on what you want to do, weigh up your options. Look at the different streaming providers. What do they charge? What content do they offer? This information will give you an indication of whether this is something you’d like to do.

Cutting the cord is a personal decision. It has a lot to do with you, your preferences, and your viewing habits. However, don’t write it off because it’s new. Thousands of people have cut the cord and couldn’t be happier.

So, to cut or not to the cut, that’s the question. How will you answer it?