The TV program 'wtFOCK' was in 2019 the most popular searched word on Google in Belgium, according to the data of the search engine. The online series - which is currently in its third season - is fully focused on young people. Many parents didn’t even know about the existence of this series. But what makes 'wtFOCK' such a great success?

Every year Google announces the most trending keywords of the past year with 'Year in Search'. The lists show which topics were searched most often in Belgium in the past year. This year 'wtFOCK' tops the list, ahead of 'Julie Van Espen', 'Tour De France 2019' and 'Love Island.' And that is striking to say the least.

The popularity of ‘wtFOCK’ can not be underestimated. A survey conducted last year by Telenet on 3000 Flemish youngsters, where the latter were asked to spontaneously sum up their favorite programs, showed that only the international hit series 'Game Of Thrones' scored better. Even when at the start, the series made little to no advertising. The marketing around 'wtFOCK' - which was fully based on the Scandinavian concept called 'SKAM' - revolves around the fact that young people need to discover the show themselves. “Because the series is really for and by young people, we decided to forgo any major marketing campaign, it just does not fit with the concept,” said Ils Neuts, head of entertainment at Telenet.

And that’s exactly one of the reasons why the series is so popular. Young people get something that’s 'exclusively’ for them, since their parents or teachers don’t know anything about it, what they can discuss among themselves. When someone asks them what it’s about, they can say “oh, nothing”, and the adults would believe them, too.

What is 'wtFOCK'?

What the f ** k is 'wtFOCK'? Probably the question that spurred the many searches on Google. 'wtFOCK' is a series for and by young people. It takes place mainly on the internet, where more than 450,000 young people are glued to the screen every week to follow the adventures of their fictional peers. Three out of four viewers follow the series via wtfock.be, a website on which the show is posted in small, bite-sized pieces throughout the week. Those fragments appear in real time: if an event takes place at 2 pm on a Monday afternoon? Then the fragment will also appear then. In addition, the series can also be viewed as a weekly overview via 'Telenet Play' and 'Play More', and on 'Vijf'.

The real-time data is a second stimulator of popularity. Viewers are eager to know how the series will continue, but have no idea when the next clip will be online. This is why many young people are constantly updating the webpage of 'wtFOCK' until new content appears. It creates an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation, which is heavily discussed in the comments that can be added below each video.

Social media

What makes the program unique, is the fact that all characters have their own account on Instagram. Thus the boundary between fiction and reality becomes very thin, and that works. Some characters have more than 80,000 followers. “We deliberately added many 'layers' to the series, in the form of social media, so that a lot of interaction can take place. We notice that the engagement of our viewers is very high ”, says Neuts. “We do our best to make it look as real as possible. For example, the character Zoë once said during the series that she would go to a festival, and whoever went to Instagram could see: she was there too.”

That is also the reason that this Flemish remake of 'SKAM' scores better than other attempts abroad. “That extra layer is essential for the experience of the program. In other countries it has either not been implemented or has been implemented to a lesser extent. And then you don't get the same effect.”

Homosexuality

The tv series recently showed the story of a gay couple for the first time this explicitly. They showed long scenes where the two boys kiss each other, make love and even have a steamy scene in the shower. And even though they don’t show everything in these scenes, it’s already so much more than other youth series and films, where they avoid the subject of homosexuality and don’t dare to visualize it. 'wtFOCK' never shuns anything and displays all issues affecting young people.

The third season of the original series Norwegian was by far the most popular. In Flanders, it appears to be no different. It pushes a male character to the front: Robbe wrestles with his homosexual feelings. He falls in love with a mysterious newcomer, and their relationship puts a strain on other people’s lives as well.

The current season was also the most controversial, even for the youth themselves. Not only because of the gay lead, where even adults still can learn a lot about tolerance, but also the many shocking clips. Robbe not only suffers from a severe depression, he was also beaten up because he was kissing a boy. Moreover, he considered to commit suicide. “What a scary clip”, was said on social media. “Can you put a trigger warning the next time? For some, it’s really triggering.”

Yet, it can not be said 'wtFOCK' doesn’t anticipate such reactions. At the end of each clip they refer young people to the help sites, if needed. They have even designed one themselves: watwat.be.

More realism

It’s also true that many other viewers, who are still in the majority, praise the Flemish remake because of the more realistic representation of a coming-out. “In the original Norwegian version, his orientation was so quickly accepted by everyone around him that it was no longer credible,” they say. “This time they have at least recognized how difficult it really can be, even today, unfortunately.” To top it off, Sander - Robbe’s new love - is fighting against bipolar disorder. A storyline that also brings psychological problems up for discussion.

Youth vs. parents

Young people not only think of 'wtFOCK' as a source of entertainment, but also a platform for their own questions and concerns. The tv series is recognizable and does not dance around difficult topics. It’s probably one of the few series that realistically reflects the lives of modern youth.

Parents may not like it, but yes, young people in high school are drinking alcohol, use drugs and have sex. Topics that many youth series either completely ignore the topic or cut the scene at that exact time. 'wtFOCK' took another approach. We see a bunch of bros smoking pot in a bathtub, while the rest of their friends - one floor down - binge drink at a party. Two girls are kissing in the living room. Two boys making love together? No problem, and when it happens to be in a shower where there is nothing to hide? Gladly, even.

Do not worry, we also see the painful consequences, such as a heavy hangover or an embarrassing visit to the doctor, very clearly. Moreover, during a first time having sex, we see teens looking for condoms in a nightstand. And when we see a depressed Robbe standing on the edge of the Scheldt after he saw his love kissing another, we hear the next morning that he needs to go to a psychologist. Which he does.

'wtFOCK' doesn’t deny drinking or drug problems, but gives pieces of correct information without pointing a finger in a media landscape where programs are sometimes patronizing. They don’t say ‘don’t do it’, but 'here is how to solve it.“

Two male minors who play out their romance openly on the screen, is advanced in a completely different way. The show doesn’t care about the question “why we shouldn’t do this” and focuses on “why we should do this”.

Text: © The editorial staff