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Column: The disturbing new after-school special that parents of teenagers need to see

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Column: The disturbing new after-school special that parents of teenagers need to see

As a parent who has been through the tumultuous journey of raising teenagers in this digital age, I find “Social Studies” to be a poignant and thought-provoking portrayal of modern adolescence. The series paints a raw, unfiltered picture of the complexities that today’s youth face when navigating their personal lives in the online world.

Every once in a while, my 17-year-old daughter subtly hints that if I’d given more encouragement during her initial success on Musical.ly, she may have become a TikTok sensation by now and I could potentially manage her career, possibly enabling me to retire.

I regret nothing.

Absolutely, following the airing of the FX documentary series “Social Studies,” filmmaker Lauren Greenfield became intrigued about how social media was influencing the youth born into the digital era. Upon schools resuming after the COVID-19 lockdowns, she embarked on a journey to delve into this topic.

During the academic year, she conversed and recorded a cluster of students mainly from high schools on the Westside of Los Angeles, who exposed their screens to her, wanting to explore what it’s like to be a late adolescent in today’s digital age, surrounded by smartphones.

For many of them, the answer is: Not great. In part because of social media.

Social media platforms encourage girls and young women to share suggestive photos, only for them to face backlash, bullying, or harassment afterwards. The spread of rumors and conflicts escalates to a harmful level. Mental health issues like anorexia are sometimes glorified. Young users are made to feel their value is tied to the number of likes or positive comments they receive on their posts. Racism, sexism, classism, and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community persist; older individuals with harmful intentions lurk, as well as pornographic content promoting misogyny and violence. A careless or malicious post can have long-term consequences.

People who may not personally encounter shaming, threats, hate speech, or online predators are still acutely conscious of these issues, much like how they’re aware of the growing disparity between their actual lives and the idealized versions they frequently see, which can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, and various emotional health challenges.

Many friends with elementary-aged children have shared their apprehension about watching a series often described as startling and unsettling by critics. As a parent to three teens who used smartphones during high school, I didn’t find “Social Studies” surprising or disturbing in any way.

Disturbing, yes; shocking, no.

Discussing sensitive topics like choking and BDSM with a 17-year-old (she exclaimed, “Oh my God, Mom, not the adult conversation once more, and off she dashed to her room) – but for those who have been following stories and research about teenagers actively using social media, two facts are clear.

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve noticed that sometimes, a handful of youngsters can amass immense wealth.

However, in “Social Studies,” I wasn’t always shocked, but at times saddened and at others outraged. It wasn’t only the events that unfolded with the project’s participants throughout a school year (and their seeming despair that no adult could or would help them), but also Greenfield’s work, despite its occasional messiness, was truly pioneering.

As a seasoned film critic, I’ve seen my fair share of movies and documentaries, but nothing quite compares to the raw, unfiltered truth that unfolds in this gripping docuseries. High school, for many, is more than just a rite of passage; it’s a dystopian battlefield where the stakes are high and the rules are often unclear. The role social media plays in amplifying this turmoil has long been a subject of concern, yet it seems as though someone has finally dared to tackle this complex issue head-on. And let me tell you, they’ve done it with a depth and quality that is nothing short of breathtaking. So why has it taken so long for such an insightful piece to be produced? I can only speculate, but I’m just glad we have it now.

As I watched, I found myself yearning for the time of the after-school TV shows, when television networks made an effort to tackle the challenges faced by young people with a sensitive and realistic approach.

For generations, we’ve utilized the challenging environment of high school extensively – for enjoyment and financial gain. From works like “A Separate Peace” to “Mean Girls: The Musical,” this transitional phase between childhood and maturity has sparked a vast amount of contemporary literature, music, art, movies, and TV shows. In fact, only the periods during the world wars might have inspired as much creative output over a four-year span.

Instead, we often find adult retellings of high-school stories captivating, given the lens of hindsight, maturity, and nostalgia. However, modern teenagers are frequently labeled as problematic. For decades, members of the baby boom generation have been voicing concerns about young people, even as they tear up while rewatching “Rebel Without a Cause” for the 157th time.

Currently, a common criticism heard frequently is teenagers being too engrossed in their mobile devices, seldom looking up. In an effort to understand this phenomenon, Greenfield captures real-life interactions of teens as a means to explore the reasons behind this behavior.

It’s no surprise that many among the dozen participants in “Social Studies” find themselves under pressure to conform to strict standards of beauty, achievement, and popularity. Essentially, they yearn for recognition and validation from their peers. To put it simply, it’s like being in high school, but with a broader audience, faster pace, and permanent documentation.

During late adolescence, it’s common to maintain two distinct personas – one presented to the adults in your life and another lived with your peers. Drama is inevitable, and mistakes are commonplace. However, nowadays, these separate lives are meticulously crafted images that barely resemble truth, the “peers” can encompass hundreds or even thousands of strangers (some of them grown-ups), and conflicts unfold not through gossip or whispers but in a torrent of harsh, critical comments.

In my perspective, there’s camaraderie and laughter, updates, and amusing clips. Yet, most of the students showcased in “Social Studies” seem to have a complex affection-aversion towards the social media sites where they frequently share content.

Indeed, many people hold the view that the digital realm significantly impacts their lives in a negative manner. Yet, paradoxically, these individuals find it hard to envision living without it.

It’s worth noting that while the show doesn’t delve into this aspect, it’s crucial to understand that those creating and managing these platforms earn income by making them seem essential. The struggle some young people articulate often stems from a well-thought-out business strategy.

Many incidents similar to those often depicted in “Social Studies” – such as an unplanned pregnancy, a wild party resulting in drug overdose, family disputes due to transphobia, a girl abandoning her friends for a boyfriend, and sexual assault – could have just as easily occurred during times predating MySpace or even Instagram. However, it’s worth noting that digital vigilantism against teenage predators is a distinctly modern phenomenon. It should also be emphasized that social media did not create issues like racism, sexism, homophobia, bullying, or body-shaming; these problems have existed for much longer. Nevertheless, social media platforms can provide alternative avenues for support, comfort, and companionship that may be lacking in a teen’s personal life or school environment.

However, due to their lack of regulation, these platforms magnify and amplify some of the more challenging aspects of adolescence. Social media capitalizes on the unique blend of distance and closeness it offers, enabling users to express thoughts they might not typically voice face-to-face or even in a group, and share them with hundreds, if not thousands, of followers. These broadly disseminated comments frequently lack context, making them susceptible to misinterpretation and leading to quiet contemplation.

It’s widely understood or ought to be, but here’s a refresher: California has recently enacted a law that either restricts or prohibits cellphone use in schools. The reason behind this law, as stated in the bill, is that excessive phone usage encourages cyberbullying and contributes significantly to rising teenage stress, anxiety, depression, and suicide rates.

But it’s one thing to read about, or even legislate against, the negative effects of teen social media use; it’s another to see it occur on the actual screens to which Greenfield was granted access or to watch these still very young people fold into themselves as it happens.

In “Social Studies,” there’s a focus on addressing parental concerns about their kids’ screen time, particularly those who might be unaware of their children’s activities when engrossed in their mobile devices. This emphasis seems to stem from a growing body of research showing the effects of excessive digital reliance on young people, which some parents may have missed.

Moreover, it’s important to remember that the 15-19 age group, comprising approximately 22 million Americans, also play diverse roles in society beyond their family circle. They function as students, workers, community members, and cultural influencers. Experiences shaped by generational context aren’t confined solely to the domestic sphere.

So what are we supposed to do? Restricting phone use during school hours may remove a source of classroom distraction — kids might have to resort to passing notes! — but it doesn’t solve the “problem” of social media. The platforms should certainly be more strictly regulated, but since they have not shown much interest in, say, protecting users from Russian election interference, I’m not holding my breath waiting for them to moderate teen hate speech.

At numerous schools, cyberbullying needs to be treated with gravity, yet for this to be effective, it’s crucial that children report such incidents. Parents can control access to certain apps, set boundaries on phone usage at specific hours, and keep tabs on usage, but these measures might inadvertently suppress a child’s inclination to communicate when they experience something distressing or potentially harmful online.

Perhaps discussing this topic could be our most productive step. Although “Social Studies” might not offer a comprehensive or diverse perspective – with an overwhelming number of students applying to Yale being one example – it serves effectively as a catalyst for dialogue, much like the classic after-school specials did in the past.

A number of children are experiencing these events, not all, and those who believe a documentary might be overly distressing or frightening are exactly the viewers it’s intended for. (Paraphrased in a more conversational style)

Regarding the subject of “Social Studies,” it’s likely that discussions of relevance will arise, especially if you have children in your life. On the other hand, even without direct connections, everyone is influenced in some manner by youth culture. Rather than disregarding young people and their devices as a nuisance, it might be beneficial to make an effort to comprehend this cultural phenomenon, which could lead to a better understanding.

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2024-10-03 18:01

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