NORTH DAKOTA (KXNET) — If you've ever wanted to actually participate in any show made by Netflix, then you've experienced the "Netflix Effect." The streaming giant left the living room and disrupted the globe in fashion, culture, travel, and food. Viewers no longer want to just watch a story, they want to live it. Here are some shows that are popular with viewers: People wanted to be part of the challenge of "Squid Game." This one was a marketing game-changer, so marketers created "Squid Game: The Challenge" so people could play the games from the show, but in a less life-threatening way. "A little competition goes a long way," said Gradient's Executive Creative Director, Kyra Taurman. "You'd think people would steer clear of a 'Squid Game' experience — the show is one of the most intense and violent on Netflix. But people — especially Gen Z — want to be active and get their hands dirty. They don't want to just pass through an experience. They want to compete in the same way their favorite characters did." Two shows that people also wanted to live in were "Stranger Things" and "Wednesday." Many people questioned where the shows were filmed. "Nevermore Academy" from "Wednesday" prompted people to look for tours to Romania — the location where the show was filmed. And even though Hawkins is a fictional town, fans of "Stranger Things" were able to visit filming locations in Georgia to get a taste of the Upside Down. "These settings make you feel closer to the creation of these characters," Taurman said. "You're in their hometown, hearing the sounds of traffic or smelling the nature around you. It's a full sensory experience that takes you away from digital screens and to the real, authentic scenes. These sensorial touchpoints are a powerful experiential strategy that transports guests right into the story." The era people wanted to experience for themselves was inspired by "Bridgerton." The term "regencycore" symbolizes the wealthy from 19th-century Europe with puffy sleeves and corsets (whose purchases have risen since the show was released). New safety measure: Teen accounts made private on Instagram "Everything is cyclical," explained Taurman. "'Bridgerton' shows us the juxtaposition between fashion sensibility today and the uptight codes of yesterday. By resurrecting these older styles, we're reclaiming them while adding our own creativity." The talent is what people wanted to experience for themselves in "Queen's Gambit." The niche hobby of chess swept the world when people wanted to learn how to set up a board and play. "Anyone can excel at a game like chess. And 'Queen's Gambit' showed that," said Taurman. "Bet Harmon — the main character — proved you don't have to fit a specific identity to play sports or do certain activities. It's an empowering sentiment brands should lean into when considering the diversity of their target audiences." Lifestyle motivated those who watched "Emily in Paris" and "Lupin." Travels to France increased significantly after the shows were released, and Taurman believes this quality led people to the theme of "creating your own story." "Paris has always been known as the 'city of love.' But the protagonists of these two shows have proved Paris is actually the 'city of depth.'" expressed Taurman. "Emily goes to Paris for her marketing career, while Lupin is a master thief who performs heists. Both characters are creating their own story — something many Gen Zers do when they set out to create their content. And Experiential allows guests to live the story and make it their own — creating more UGC content, and therefore, greater brand reach." The takeaway of the "Netflix Effect" is that people don't want to just stream shows anymore, they want to actually live it, whether it's a challenge, an era, or a lifestyle. And that's exactly what people are doing. "Brands: don't 'Netflix and Chill,' — 'Netflix and Act,'" Taurman concluded. "It's clear that these shows have impacted many spectrums of our culture. And by incorporating gamification, authentic settings and time periods, diversifying their target audience, and allowing guests to create their own story — they can cut through the noise in a saturated market." Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Today's Top Stories SIGN UP NOW