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Social Media Swallowed Gen Z. This Film Shows Exactly How

Lauren Greenfield, director of the docuseries "Social Studies," says we have to have empathy for teens growing up online. “It's not fair to ask them to self-regulate when the apps have been designed to be addictive.”

Stitched together, the documentary illuminates the tangled and unrelenting experiences of teens as they deal with body dysmorphia, bullying, social acceptance, and suicidal ideation. With the release of the final episode this week (you can stream it on Hulu), I spoke with Greenfield over Zoom about the sometimes cruel, seemingly infinite experience of being a teenager online today. My first book, Fast Forward: Growing Up in the Shadow of Hollywood explored how kids were influenced by the values of fame, image, and materialism.

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