I am really surprised to read reviews that think this documentary series is about cybersleuths in a good way or because they hate the people being documented, they leave bad reviews of the show.
There is no moralizing narrator telling you how you should feel about these people. Reviewers seem to think that those making the show need to explicitly say these people suck and that they cause(d) harm. The documentary lets the cybersleuths themselves show how much they suck and as we watch them in action as the Idaho Murders investigation unfolds, we see how they cause harm.
Let's be clear, those being documented really, really suck. They use human tragedy for social media branding, to make money, to feel a part of something that has nothing to do with them, and don't care if their "theories" harm investigations and/or trials. They don't care if they accuse innocent people of crimes and ruin/endanger their lives. They don't care when crime victims are re-traumatized by having to respond to online rumors of guilt or having not "behaved correctly in response to a crime." When shown to be wrong, they double down and create even crazier conspiracy theories so they can keep their followers (and money flowing in). They are happy to sow distrust in the criminal justice system for their own gain. Not that it is perfect by ANY means but these people are happy to tear down an important American institution for selfish reasons.
The documentary shows how there is no check on their content. Instead, the further they fall down conspiracy rabbit holes, the more they are rewarded. You catch flashes of self-awareness in some of the people being documented but they quickly make excuses for themselves.
If you are not familiar with true crime vids on TikTok (or true crime podcasts), you will find this documentary series educational and probably alarming.
There is no moralizing narrator telling you how you should feel about these people. Reviewers seem to think that those making the show need to explicitly say these people suck and that they cause(d) harm. The documentary lets the cybersleuths themselves show how much they suck and as we watch them in action as the Idaho Murders investigation unfolds, we see how they cause harm.
Let's be clear, those being documented really, really suck. They use human tragedy for social media branding, to make money, to feel a part of something that has nothing to do with them, and don't care if their "theories" harm investigations and/or trials. They don't care if they accuse innocent people of crimes and ruin/endanger their lives. They don't care when crime victims are re-traumatized by having to respond to online rumors of guilt or having not "behaved correctly in response to a crime." When shown to be wrong, they double down and create even crazier conspiracy theories so they can keep their followers (and money flowing in). They are happy to sow distrust in the criminal justice system for their own gain. Not that it is perfect by ANY means but these people are happy to tear down an important American institution for selfish reasons.
The documentary shows how there is no check on their content. Instead, the further they fall down conspiracy rabbit holes, the more they are rewarded. You catch flashes of self-awareness in some of the people being documented but they quickly make excuses for themselves.
If you are not familiar with true crime vids on TikTok (or true crime podcasts), you will find this documentary series educational and probably alarming.