ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The Reality of True Crime

by Samantha Brannen

The recent release of the Netflix show Dahmer has paved the way for a disturbing trend currently on the rise. On social media apps such as Tiktok, we see people bragging about how unfazed they were by the show or that it could have been gorier. These types of true crime shows tend to sympathize heavily with those who have committed the crime and completely forget about the victims and their families. The people that have been left to pick up the pieces and deal with the aftermath aren't given the spotlight they deserve, and it is alarming.

Since the 1960s, true crime has always fascinated people. Before podcasts and YouTube videos, people read the latest breaking stories in tabloids or listened to them on the radio. Records even show that writers in the 1700s published reports on the newest capital crimes weekly. It is a genre that people are abnormally drawn to.

The evolution of technology and phones in particular has made true crime more accessible. Certain social media accounts are dedicated to recapitulating numerous atrocities from around the world, such as kidnappings and murders. They can be found on all platforms, from YouTube to Instagram. TikTok in particular has been home to many disturbing trends. When scrolling through the app, you will come across videos upon videos of primarily impressionable children glorifying serial killers such as Richard Ramirez. Jeffrey Dahmer has had the spotlight most recently due to the show that just came out based on his life and the horrific crimes he committed. The influx of people making edits about serial killers and saying how the show Dahmer should have had more gore is insensitive to all those involved. It treats real cases with so little care and respect.

At first glance, it seems like a harmless medium to consume while driving or cleaning around the house. The description of grisly murders serves as background noise for many as they go about their mindless tasks. But whether you like to admit it or not, these stories have a real-life person behind them. Someone's daughter and another person's grandson are the humans behind the screen. As a society, we should move past using true crime as a form of “entertainment” and truly think about the repercussions.