Media Matters: Online streaming platforms need to better disclose biases and dramatizations

The+infographic+above+details+Netflixs+viewership%2C+as+well+as+the+size+of+the+audiences+involved+with+Making+a+Murderer.+With+each+series+on+Netflix+and+similar+platforms+so+popular+now%2C+distinguishing+between+dramatic+content+and+documentary+content+will+prove+necessary+to+improve+audience+judgment.

Adrian Chu

The infographic above details Netflix’s viewership, as well as the size of the audiences involved with “Making a Murderer.” With each series on Netflix and similar platforms so popular now, distinguishing between dramatic content and documentary content will prove necessary to improve audience judgment.

by Adrian Chu, Aquila Columnist

As Netflix’s competitors expand and release new content, Netflix’s newest strategy to retain subscribers has been a series of Netflix-exclusive TV series and films. One of its most popular recent additions, Making a Murderer, focuses on the events surrounding the two criminal cases of Steven Avery and has garnered more public recognition than any other Netflix documentary in the past.

The ten-episode series is an enjoyable documentary in its own right, but the show owes much of its success to Netflix’s online promotion. Netflix US & Canada’s official YouTube account, a channel devoted to previews of Netflix’s primarily scripted content, posted a trailer as well as the first episode.

By advertising a documentary alongside comedies and dramas, Netflix makes it more difficult to differentiate television based in real world situations from shows completely faithful to true events. Although scripted shows such as Beasts of No Nation and Narcos  have been successful, both attracting over 3 million views, audiences understand that the shows dramatize true events. As a result, the series have a limited influence on the way viewers think.

However, when historical TV shows or movies and documentaries are advertised in trailers shot in the same style in the same YouTube channel, the audience may not distinguish reality and dramatization. Even Making a Murderer, a documentary praised for its comprehensive coverage of Steven Avery’s alleged crimes, devotes more screen time to the lawyers supporting his innocence which might have led to the overwhelming support for Avery’s freedom.

The petition proves that when controversial media is taken at face value it can influence the world profoundly. With that power in mind, Netflix and other video streaming companies must explicitly segregate the advertising of documentaries and scripted series as well as outline the biases and creative liberties in their content before a viewer even downloads the first episode. Only then can the audience evaluate the shows and movies they watch with appropriate judgment.


 

Adrian Chu
Adrian Chu (10) is a reporter for the Winged Post and a columnist for Harker Aquila. He enjoys journalism as it enables him to voice his opinion and to engage in school events as well as international matters. His Opinion column discusses aspects of media influencing society.