FX’s ‘Social Studies’ Is a Devastating Exploration of Teenhood in the Age of Social Media: TV Review

As a movie critic who grew up in the pre-Facebook era, I can say with certainty that “Social Studies” is a gripping and thought-provoking exploration of the digital age that today’s youth has never known. The series provides an unsettling glimpse into the lives of Los Angeles teenagers grappling with the harrowing effects of social media in their daily lives.

Social media platforms, such as Instagram and TikTok, seem like they’ve been an integral part of our lives forever. Many of us spend a chunk of our day, either absent-mindedly or deliberately, browsing these sites. However, it wasn’t always this way. Facebook was only launched 20 years ago, and most millennials (and older generations) can vividly remember the moment they created their accounts. But for Gen Z and future generations, their perspective is significantly different. In her new FX series titled “Social Studies,” documentarian Lauren Greenfield delves into the alarming and distressing impact of social media on a group of Los Angeles teenagers who have never known life without it. The docuseries is both captivating and unsettling, providing a snapshot of our times while allowing these teens to voice their own experiences.

The academic subject known as ‘Social Studies’ commences during the initial week of school in autumn 2021. The TV series ‘Greenfield’ focuses on a group of teenagers from diverse high schools, ethnicities, and socioeconomic statuses who are readjusting to face-to-face learning after spending a year and a half online due to the pandemic. As the show starts, viewers can feel a sense of unease among the students. They seem preoccupied with what to wear and how to behave. Without their usual digital barriers, all 14 or so students that ‘Greenfield’ follows are nervous about resuming in-person classes.

Across the five episodes of the series, Greenfield employs her camera, recordings from the students’ phones, and videos by Jonathan, a Pacific Palisades student who oversees the school’s video program, to expose deeply personal and sensitive aspects of her subjects’ lives, encompassing everything from uplifting moments to heart-rending and shocking experiences. The series tackles issues such as bullying, suicidal thoughts, sexual assault, racial abuse, drug use, and fear of missing out (FOMO), among others. In the first episode, “Social 101,” Greenfield openly portrays how the racial divide in America is reflected online, with one student commenting, “It seems like one of the main beauty standards is being Caucasian.

Though many issues like body image, striving for perfection, and sexual curiosity have long been challenges faced by teenagers throughout history, the intensity, misinformation, and constant need to document every moment of their lives set the experience of being a teenager today apart. For instance, Ella, a high school senior, and Sydney, a college freshman, ponder over the unwanted and, frankly, alarming attention they received from older men after sharing suggestive photos on social media platforms. Yet, the approval they receive on these apps makes it tough for them to switch to posting about their interests and favorite pastimes.

In Episodes 4, titled “Sex Ed,” and 5, entitled “Final Acts,” there are some very unsettling scenes. The main character, high school senior Sofia, confides about being sexually assaulted by a fellow student. Despite her disclosing the incident online, neither her friends nor the school took any steps to address it. It was only when another student, Anthony, took matters into his own hands and exposed the alleged assailant on YouTube and Snapchat that the police and eventually the school became involved.

Adolescence is a thrilling yet nerve-wracking period in life. Looking back, many of us have photographs and perhaps some fuzzy videos to help us remember our happiest and saddest moments. In “Social Studies,” however, everything is in high definition and live streaming. For instance, we witness Ellie, a senior in high school, abandoning a long-standing friendship and her education for the sake of a boy. Early in the year, Jack, a popular student known for his significant TikTok following and entrepreneurial drive, throws an enormous party that ends with a teen overdosing and the venue being destroyed. Such events are not unusual for this age group, but seeing them permanently recorded adds a level of discomfort. It’s unsettling to watch teens make decisions that could significantly impact their future.

This is not to say all of the series’ subjects are maladjusted solely because of social media. “Social Studies” also follows Cooper, a senior who uses her podcast to discuss body dysmorphia, and how body image can get so fragmented due to these platforms. Dominic and Jonathan volunteer at Teen Line, a mental health support line that often fields calls about self-harm and loneliness. Others, including Jack and Keyshawn, use social platforms to run their businesses. Additionally, Marley, a Black student, discusses the ostracization she initially felt at a predominantly white school before transferring to a private girls’ school. This group sometimes seems to have healthier relationships with the apps even as they navigate significant life changes.

In “Social Studies,” the abundance of context and information can feel overwhelming, yet it closely resembles the constant stream of data young people encounter while using apps frequently. To combat the need for constant online presence, Greenfield offers discussions from her occasional phone-free gatherings, which offer a secure and candid setting for young individuals in the documentary to interact face-to-face. These interactions, undoubtedly, are vital practices they should engage in daily.

The transitional period from childhood to maturity can be tough, but witnessing today’s teenagers grapple with distressing ordeals, frequently exacerbated by substance abuse and mental health struggles, underscores a profound problem within our society. Barbara Greenfield, who specializes in exposing the pitfalls of wealth, is uniquely qualified to dissect this striking imbalance between adventure and limitation. Moreover, if you’re living to entertain on the internet, there may not be much else to anticipate in reality. Platforms such as TikTok and Instagram are undeniably part of the issue, but neglectful parenting, lacking awareness, empathy, and intervention, also plays a significant role. Despite their advanced skills in certain areas, excessive preoccupation with social media has left many youngsters struggling to cope effectively.

Beginning September 27th, the initial two episodes of “Social Studies” debut on FX. On that same day after the premiere, the episodes will become accessible for streaming on Hulu. Subsequent episodes air weekly on FX every Friday, with each episode becoming available for streaming on Hulu the following Saturday.

2024-09-27 16:18

FX’s ‘Social Studies’ Is a Devastating Exploration of Teenhood in the Age of Social Media: TV Review

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