THE ETHICS OF TRUE CRIME

Sophia Sunbury & Myles Hu

True crime has taken the world by storm. But, its divisiveness among audiences has left many with the question: is revisiting real crimes ethical?

The genre of true crime covers literature, video media, and podcasts that focus on real crime cases and delve into a crime's impact on victims and criminals themselves. First amassing a following through podcasts, such as "Serial," true crime has markedly expanded in recent years, especially in the form of docuseries.

The meteoric rise of true crime cannot be understated, as a survey from YouGov America in September 2022 notes that of 1,000 American adult surveyors, half enjoy true crime, while 35% watch some form of this genre weekly. As a result, an increased craving for this genre has expanded the number of offerings available to viewers, listeners, and readers. Notably, "Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story," released in September 2022, is currently Netflix's fourth-most viewed show ever.

So, the question remains: why is true crime so popular nowadays? Many experts believe there is a fascination with true crime because it involves real people, places, and events. These factors give audiences a greater shock factor when watching these docuseries.

"There is a wide variety of reasons to enjoy a well-made crime story. All the elements that make for great literature are in there: