2025-06-22T13:00:00Z

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Lauren Greenfield's documentary series, Social Studies, has ignited a spectrum of reactions that seem to fall predominantly into two camps: young viewers find it validating, while adults perceive it as a horror show. This dichotomy reflects the generational divide in understanding the complexities of teenage life in the age of social media. As Greenfield articulately puts it, “Our kids are right there, and yet we don’t really know what’s going on in their lives.”

This five-part series closely examines the dual lives of a group of teenagers and young adults, the very first generation raised in the digital realm of social media. It has garnered critical acclaim and is even being considered for an Emmy award. The documentary uncovers startling behaviors that occur right under the noses of their unsuspecting parents, illustrating a world where teenagers sneak out of their homes to meet partners, share sexually explicit content online, and even participate in extreme challenges such as fasting for 91 hours. Greenfield delves into troubling issues including rape, cyberbullying, the harmful effects of beauty standards dominated by Caucasian norms, and the alarming rise of suicidal thoughts among youth. The portrayal of adolescence is stark and evocative, likening it to a lawless frontier.

Greenfield herself reflects on her approach to the project, stating, “I really tried to go into this as a social experiment.” Speaking from the Fahey/Klein Gallery in Los Angeles, where a Social Studies photographic exhibition is underway until July, she reveals that her journey began by conducting over 200 mini-interviews at high schools throughout Los Angeles. After narrowing it down to a group of about 25 adolescents, she was granted unprecedented access to their lives—both online and offline—over the 2021-2022 school year. This immersive approach included real-time screen recordings, portraying a frenetic blend of digital and physical environments that many viewers find challenging yet enlightening.

Originating from a background in anthropology, Greenfield’s career took off with a commission for National Geographic, where she initially captured the lives of the Maya people in Mexico. However, after that project was shelved, she shifted her focus closer to home, exploring themes of consumerism, wealth disparity, and youth culture in Los Angeles. The concept for Social Studies was, in part, inspired by her experiences with her youngest son, Gabriel. “We had constant battles about screen time,” she recalls, emphasizing her struggle to grasp the content he consumed and the privacy he insisted upon regarding his smartphone. “I was blaming my son for his screen time, and I ended up feeling that’s like blaming an opium addict for their addiction,” she reflects, acknowledging the pervasive nature of social media addiction.

Over the course of her extensive filming, Greenfield compiled an astonishing 1,000 hours of documentary footage alongside an additional 2,000 hours of screen-recorded content. Her son played a crucial role in navigating the technology, and the project became a deeply personal experience for Greenfield, particularly when she encountered him at a party while filming.

The creation of Social Studies has also catalyzed Greenfield’s evolution as a parent. “I did come out of it wanting to spread the word, raise awareness,” she asserts. She emphasizes the pressing need for collective action to address the dangers faced by young people in today’s digital landscape. Although she initially did not plan to include parents in her documentary, those who appear often come across poorly, with many depicted as disengaged or oblivious to their children's digital lives. One mother, for instance, admits, “I really don’t want to look at Sydney’s TikTok,” while another father pays his daughter to stay off an app.

Greenfield posits that these parental portrayals serve as a reflective mirror for society as a whole, urging viewers to assess their own engagement with their children’s lives. Throughout the process, she found herself posing difficult questions to her own children, often prompted by insights gained from her young subjects. The documentary balances its heavier themes with moments of levity—teenagers candidly express their feelings about sharing “foot pics” and navigating the complexities of social media fame. One participant quips about the allure of a life like that of Kim Kardashian, revealing the pervasive influence of celebrity culture.

As the series unfolds, it spotlights young individuals like Anthony, a 20-year-old vigilante who seeks justice for assault victims through social media, encapsulating the power dynamics at play in a landscape often devoid of adult supervision. Greenfield’s presence throughout the documentary is subtle yet pivotal; she poses challenging questions to the teenagers, capturing their experiences in an unobtrusive manner. Yet, her role sometimes feels ambiguous, particularly when sensitive topics arise, such as one girl’s recounting of her rape experience.

Greenfield’s response to these challenging moments, while attentive, raises questions about the emotional burden of witnessing such painful stories. “It’s an interesting question,” she notes when asked how she processes these narratives. “I really love doing this work,” she continues, expressing fulfillment in telling these important stories. Her own background informs her understanding of the issues, as she recalls feeling insecure and vulnerable during her own teenage years, which amplifies her empathy for the youth she documents.

Despite the heavy implications of her findings, Greenfield cautions against placing sole blame on parents for the current state of youth culture. “The tech companies could make this completely different if they wanted to,” she argues, highlighting the deliberate design of social media to encourage addiction. She reflects on a harrowing realization that social media platforms operate with profit motives that often overshadow the well-being of their young users.

In her quest for change, Greenfield has taken Social Studies beyond the screen; she has engaged with lawmakers and educators to raise awareness about the urgent need for regulation in the digital landscape. Drawing parallels between social media and past public health campaigns, she advocates for stringent health warnings akin to those once applied to tobacco products. The series culminates in a thought-provoking episode where participants voice their desire to disconnect from social media, prompting applause, yet they grapple with the existential dilemma of being forgotten in a digital age.

Greenfield concludes with a powerful call to action, asserting that society must reclaim communication from profit-driven corporations. The notion of establishing public utilities for communication resonates deeply with her, and she believes that while it may seem radical, it is not impossible. “I do think it’s possible, actually,” she asserts with conviction, emphasizing the need for a collective effort to secure a healthier digital environment for future generations.