“What an invasion, an immense invasion”: Examining the adverse effects of true crime media on co-victims

Abstract

Through in-depth qualitative interviews with 20 people who identify as co-victims (friends/family members of missing people, victims, and/or perpetrators) spotlighted in true crime productions, this study addresses growing concerns regarding the ethics of true crime media and how the genre can be retraumatizing for those featured. This study focuses on algorithmic media consumption, fandom culture, and participatory audiences to demonstrate how the media environment has changed, encouraging exploitation and sensationalism for capitalistic gain. Co-victims identified five main issues with the true crime genre: (1) inaccuracies, (2) the sensationalization of tragedy, (3) loss of privacy due to media attention, (4) uncomfortable interactions with true crime consumers, including online trolls, and (5) lack of control over how these stories are produced or edited, often resulting in further harm.