New docuseries explores teenagers’ complex relationship with social media

New Docuseries Explores Teenagers’ Complex Relationship with Social Media

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital communication, social media stands as both a blessing and a burden for today’s youth. This duality is the focus of the new FX docuseries “Social Studies,” created by acclaimed documentarian Lauren Greenfield. The series delves into the lives of young people grappling with the omnipresence of social media in their formative years.

The series, which unfolds over five episodes, takes viewers from August 2021 to the summer of 2022, embedding itself in the day-to-day lives of teenagers from several high schools in the Los Angeles area, including Palisades Charter. Greenfield and her team spent a school year with these students, documenting significant milestones such as prom and college applications while also capturing the pervasive influence of social media on their lives.

Greenfield’s project coincides with increasing scrutiny of social media’s impact on mental health, particularly among young people. In June, the US Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy highlighted social media as a significant contributor to the mental health crisis affecting the youth. Greenfield’s docuseries provides a raw look into the nuanced experiences of this demographic, bringing to the forefront topics such as body dysmorphia, bullying, social acceptance, and suicidal ideation.

This series distinguishes itself through its collaborative approach. The teenagers involved were not just subjects, but active participants, contributing to their portrayal by saving screen recordings of their phone interactions. This method resulted in a staggering 2,000 hours of footage, complementing the 1,200 hours of principal photography, which together paint a candid picture of the digital age’s first true natives.

Greenfield’s entrenchment in this project was not about taking a stance but rather exploring the complex realities faced by today’s youth. In an interview, she notes that the series was more than just filmmaking; it was a social experiment aimed at understanding how a generation comes of age with social media as a cultural backdrop more influential than any other.

The series does not shy away from portraying the harsh truths of online life for teenagers. One student poignantly states, “I think you can’t log in to TikTok and be safe,” underscoring the fraught nature of digital interaction. Greenfield acknowledges the profound impact social media has on modern childhood, especially in the context of pandemic-induced isolation.

“Social Studies” is available for streaming on Hulu, offering audiences an unflinching glimpse into the pressures and paradoxes of growing up in a world where the boundaries between physical and digital realities are increasingly blurred. As the final episodes draw to a close, the series leaves its viewers with a vivid depiction of the challenges faced by Generation Z, inviting reflection on the complexities of adolescent life in the digital era.

Source: Noah Wire Services