More than a year after the third season finale, his popular series Netflix“You”, returned to the platform with the first part of a new series of series. The series is based on the novel by Caroline Kepnes, adapted by Greg Berlanti (“Riverdale”) and Sarah Gamble (“Supernatural”), with a focus on the protagonist’s psychopathic behavior towards women.

The action takes place in Europe and, in particular, in London, the continuation of the story follows it. Joe Goldberg (Pen Badgley) as he leaves behind a life in suburban Los Angeles, wanting to start a new life in London. But even there, the past of the seemingly benevolent, sweet and charming hero will not allow him to forget the crimes that he committed in order to win the women who fell in love and make them stay with him. Joe is actually a manipulator who does not hesitate to kill anyone who gets in the way of his plans.

Since February 9, when they were “uploaded” to Netflix, the first five episodes of the fourth season of the love thriller climbed into the top ten in just four days with the series having larger view in 90 countries. In fact, in most of them, including in Greece, he was immediately at the top of the list, as evidenced by the data of the streaming service. To prepare for the new season, many fans have rewatched the first, second and third series of the series.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zQ2-E0LtOs

“Brad, something sick”

But the show has been repeatedly criticized for “romanticizing” the stalking: Instead of portraying a dangerous sociopath, Joe evokes audience sympathy – in part because the story is presented from his point of view.

Badgley himself, in dealing with fans, often feels the need to remind that the character he plays is a cold-blooded killer, and not just an attractive hero. “Fans confuse passion with obsession and danger,” a psychologist-psychotherapist tells K. Nasia Skaberdoni and he explains: “What perhaps fascinated them was this chase, the way the male claims the female. But in fact, this is a delusion, something sick.”

The Dark Side of Social Media

The use of the Internet and especially social media is an important part of the plot development of modern series such as Gossip Girl or Euphoria, where Facebook and Instagram are an integral part of the daily life of the characters. In “You”, Joe is involved in his pursuits, which cause him to violate the privacy of the people who are interested in him.

“There is a man who is obsessed and misuses the Internet, turning it from a useful tool into a dangerous weapon. And there romance and love are abolished somewhere, the ideal partner acquires a disgusting image,” says Ms. Scabardoni, emphasizing that “he presents himself to girls as someone who wants to protect them, but in the end it turns out that he wants to manipulate them, enter into their lives in a very sick way.” When he fails or his plans don’t go as he imagined, he doesn’t hesitate to take their lives.

“This is where the dark side of social media really comes into play. Unfortunately, there are many platforms where people give more information about themselves, which can make them targets for exploitation, ”says the psychologist-psychotherapist.

It’s a fact that from the very beginning the creators of “You” wanted to focus on that: on the dimension social media takes and the effects it can have. “Physical familiarity can lead to social media exploration and the ability for someone to spy on the other person, making them an easy target for manipulation.” However, for many, the show’s depiction of online harassment isn’t all that bad, and there are a few irresponsible errors in the portrayal of the story.

Data

Illegal surveillance is a serious problem that deserves more attention, especially considering how often it happens to women. According to Kaspersky Lab, in 2022, more than 29,000 people worldwide became victims of stalkerware – malicious software that is installed on a computer, smartphone or tablet to track social media activities, etc. Our country ranked 10 place.^V the situation of countries in Europe, 70 people were persecuted. The same study showed that the use of this software can reach a million cases each year.

In media such as television and film, especially in fiction, such general social issues require sensitive handling and investigation, as there is a risk that they may influence behavior and even lead to criminal acts.