In a world dominated by TikTok trends, Instagram filters, and endless scrolling, Social Studies has become one of the most important TV series of 2024. Streaming now on Disney+, this groundbreaking documentary-style series explores the complicated relationship between Generation Z and social media.
Created by award-winning filmmaker Lauren Greenfield, Social Studies combines raw, real-life stories with expert insights to reveal the highs and lows of growing up online. With Australia introducing a bold new law enforcing a minimum age of 16 for social media users, this series couldn’t be more relevant.
What Is Social Studies About?
Social Studies takes viewers on a deep dive into the digital world of Gen Z. Filmed over a school year in Los Angeles, this ambitious social experiment features a diverse group of teens who open up their lives—and their phones—to offer an intimate glimpse into how social media has reshaped childhood.
Each episode focuses on a different aspect of social media’s impact. The first episode, “Social 101,” introduces viewers to the teens as they return to school post-COVID, navigating a world dominated by social media. In “Social Divisions,” the series examines how the quest for followers and online fame intersects with real-life racial and class divisions.
In “Peer/Algorithm Pressure,” teens face the double-edged sword of peer influence and algorithm-driven rabbit holes, showing how their digital choices affect their real lives. “Sex Ed” takes a more provocative turn, exploring how social media and online pornography are shaping teens’ understanding of relationships, often with harmful consequences. Finally, “Deletions and Culminations” wraps up the series as the teens confront their futures and consider the lasting impact of their digital lives.
Through cinematic recreations of daily digital life—like teens scrolling under neon lights or influencers filming TikToks in surreal locations—the series paints a vivid and relatable picture of what it means to grow up online.
The Australian Government’s New Legislation and Why It Matters
The themes explored in Social Studies hit even harder in light of Australia’s latest online safety laws. On 28 November 2024, the Australian Parliament passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, which requires users to be at least 16 years old to access platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat.
Set to take effect in 2025, this legislation addresses alarming rates of anxiety, depression, and cyberbullying among younger teens. Social media platforms will now be required to implement robust age-verification measures or risk fines of up to AUD 50 million.
Episodes of Social Studies like “Peer/Algorithm Pressure” explore exactly why such measures are necessary. Psychologists featured in the series explain how endless scrolling through picture-perfect feeds can fuel feelings of inadequacy. Younger users, they argue, are particularly vulnerable to the dopamine-driven design of these platforms.
While critics of the legislation have raised concerns about enforcement and individual freedoms, many parents and mental health advocates view it as a crucial step in protecting children’s well-being. Social Studies doesn’t take sides but provides valuable context, showing how digital pressures can profoundly impact young lives.
Why Gen Z Can’t Stop Talking About It
What makes Social Studies so impactful is its authenticity. Rather than an outsider’s analysis, it amplifies the voices of the very people it’s about.
The show features influencers like Addison Rae and Jojo Siwa, who share their struggles with online fame, and mental health advocate Chloe Tan, who recounts her journey to find balance in a digital-first world. By spotlighting real stories, Social Studies strikes a chord with its audience.
Its visuals are just as compelling. Each episode blends interviews with stunning recreations of Gen Z’s daily lives: LED-lit bedrooms, families arguing over screen time, and influencers perfecting TikTok routines. It’s relatable, immersive, and undeniably beautiful to watch.
Who Should Watch Social Studies?
While Social Studies is a must-watch for Gen Z, it’s also highly relevant for parents, educators, and policymakers. For parents, it offers an invaluable glimpse into the pressures their kids face online—from cyberbullying to the constant chase for validation through likes and followers.
Educators can gain insights into how digital habits affect learning and socialisation, while policymakers can use the series as a resource to better understand the societal impact of social media. For Millennials and older generations, it’s a chance to see the world through Gen Z’s eyes and build empathy across generational divides.
Where to Watch and What’s Next
Social Studies is currently streaming on Disney+.
So grab your phone — or better yet, put it on silent — and dive into Social Studies. It might just change the way you look at your screen, and yourself.