In FX’s ‘Social Studies,’ Social Media Is “a Lifeline and a Loaded Gun” for L.A. Teenagers

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As a seasoned observer of societal dynamics, I find myself deeply moved by the profound portrayal of modern teenage life in “Social Studies.” Having lived through my own tumultuous teenage years without the omnipresence of social media, I can’t help but marvel at the unique challenges these young individuals face.

As a high school senior in America, I’ve found myself right smack in the middle of the spotlight, just like countless characters on TV dramas over the years. But here’s the twist – social media, this ubiquitous part of our lives, has cranked up the intensity of those high school dramas to new heights. It’s a whirlwind of self-doubt, anxiety, and all the other emotional turmoil that comes with growing up. It can feel like a living nightmare at times, right? But then again, is it all as bleak as it seems?

Through her current venture, “Social Studies,” renowned photographer and documentary filmmaker Lauren Greenfield delves deeply into the private lives of a group of California teenagers by examining their smartphones. This exploration uncovers an unexpected reality beyond the constant lamenting about the endless cycle of posting, sharing, and scrolling that characterizes America’s younger generation.

The series titled “Social Studies” premiered two out of its five episodes on FX last week, and will continue to air the rest of the season every Friday. For this project, 15 students were followed throughout the 2021-22 school year as they faced challenges common for teenagers, along with some new hurdles unique to the social media era. Topics such as bullying, sexual maturation, teen pregnancy, school shootings, body image issues, and eating disorders arise during the five-hour span — so do instances of vigilante justice, some frustrating parents, heartwarming parents, and party scenes that may cause one to question if “Euphoria” portrays teenage life as an exaggeration (as Daniel Fienberg from The Hollywood Reporter noted in his review). The unique aspect of this series is that the director displays a character’s social media posts alongside their story as it unfolds over the year.

The show is airing at a time when discussions about how social media affects teenagers have intensified significantly. In August 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General published a report highlighting both the benefits and drawbacks of this widespread tool, suggesting it may influence specific changes in the maturing brain, such as the amyggdala, which plays a key role in emotional learning, and the prefrontal cortex, critical for impulse control, emotional management, and moderating social conduct. The report also hinted at the possibility of increased sensitivity to social rewards and penalties due to social media use. A year after this report, the Los Angeles Unified School District board made a 5-2 decision to prohibit students from using cell phones and social media during school hours, in response to mounting worries about its influence on adolescent mental health.

Lauren Greenfield, who gained acclaim in the film festival circuit with her 2012 Sundance winning film “The Queen of Versailles“, emerged early in 1997 with a compelling book titled “Fast Forward: Growing Up in the Shadow of Hollywood”. This work, featuring approximately 80 photos and interviews, captures Los Angeles’ youth culture at its most image-conscious and impactful. In an interview with THR, Greenfield discussed the origins of her project “Social Studies“, which sprang from her observation of her teenage son’s melancholy after extended use of social media during the COVID-19 lockdown. After 150 days of filming and two years of editing, it transformed into a broad film exploring the first generation of children maturing under the influence of the dopamine surge from likes and shares.

Greenfield expressed that the development of this series felt unique due to the current generation, who’ve been raised on technology. This allowed him to revisit his origins as his first book focused on L.A. teenagers and their exposure to a media-saturated culture, influenced by what he termed ‘Hollywood values’ – celebrity, appearance, and materialism. He observed these themes becoming even more pronounced in the social media age.

She aimed to conduct a social study by merging the liveliness and authenticity of documentaries with an additional camera feature on the smartphones of her 15 participants. The objective was to explore the effects these devices, which Gen Z spends on average more than six hours per day using, have on their creators and consumers, as well as the media they produce.

Following an unsuccessful attempt by a hired engineer to extract social media posts from the subjects’ phones for her project, Greenfield’s son once again proved helpful when he discovered a workaround to initiate the process, even though it necessitated having a full-time producer solely dedicated to downloading and organizing all the posts during the five-month filming period. In her quest to assemble her series cast, Greenfield carried out over 200 brief interviews. However, these were merely a starting point, as the final team of fifteen teenagers, many from the Palisades Charter High School and representing various areas across the Southland, developed more naturally, according to Greenfield, with one subject often introducing her to another.

She stated that the children are likely quite diverse because she didn’t want them to be labeled as ‘the crazy kids in L.A.’, ‘the rich kids’, or ‘the people from such-and-such area’. Instead, these youngsters hail from various neighborhoods, have varying socioeconomic backgrounds, and also possess different connections with social media.

As a fan, I found myself immersed in a vibrant mosaic of Los Angeles teen existence, a snapshot or time capsule that encapsulates the familiar drama of adolescence – the whispers, the awkwardness, the emerging feelings, and the constant anxiety – while also shedding light on the unique experiences of teens who emerged from the COVID era. Their social lives, largely confined to digital spaces, now find them interacting in person, readjusting to the routines and customs of high school. Remarkably, these characters reflect a diverse cross-section of L.A.’s community, some even embodying specific scenarios that mirror the city itself.

In a simplified version:

The initial incident in the series is presented to viewers of “Social Studies” using a mix of interviews with participants who share their experiences, as well as social media videos that help construct a storyline. This particular instance carries a shift in mood, as the teenagers involved are both experiencing and instigating real peril; although this feeling of discomfort doesn’t linger throughout the series, it does resurface. Greenfield skillfully portrays events that range from shocking (the school shooting scare feels particularly raw), infuriating (a mother’s acceptance of the MAGA mindset and her refusal to acknowledge her trans child), surprising (it turns out choking is a popular teen trend among some circles), relatable (rejection letters from colleges), and hopeful (starting college). The most significant aspect, however, is that throughout the series, the teens have their voices heard, and for the most part, they manage to navigate their circumstances.

Greenfield expressed his belief that the children are incredibly resilient and often discover their unique voices. He suggested that self-discovery and finding one’s voice can serve as a remedy for the negative impacts of social media, such as constant comparison or striving to be like someone who doesn’t exist.

Throughout the series, the ordinary life of teenagers is occasionally interrupted for group discussions at a roundtable. Greenfield temporarily stops the flow and joins this gathering to have an open conversation about the troubles they’re facing. Here, a shared experience is uncovered among a diverse group of young individuals, often leading to enlightening perspectives as these peers engage in honest dialogue directly with each other. This serves as a counterbalance to the superficiality found on social media.

How does this swift summary of a COVID-19 year for teenagers on social media compare in terms of benefits, and is managing this pervasive platform more challenging for today’s teens than in earlier times? The director acknowledges that the medium has both advantages and disadvantages; however, they believe that adjusting algorithmic rules and government regulation can help mitigate its issues. On the second question, the director asserts unequivocally that it is indeed more challenging for today’s teens to navigate this all-consuming digital landscape compared to previous generations.

As a fellow admirer, I find myself in agreement with Greenfield’s sentiment. It struck me as quite unexpected that most of the kids prefer the era before social media, a notion that Greenfield highlighted. Just like Jonathan poignantly put it, “It’s a lifeline, but it’s also a loaded gun.” They acknowledge their reliance on it, as it serves as their primary mode of communication and keeps them informed about what’s happening. As another individual succinctly expressed, “Do you even exist if you’re not on it?” This sentiment seems to touch upon an existential aspect of today’s digital age.

Every Friday at 10 p.m. Eastern Time, Social Studies premieres fresh episodes on FX, with those episodes becoming available for streaming on Hulu the very next day.

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2024-10-02 22:56