After extensive research, I’ve developed a hypothesis concerning the link between commute and road trips to Spotify Podcasts: People enjoy putting on their headphones, mentally checking out and tuning into a relaxing story of violence and tragedy.

Even though true crime aficionados have been received negatively in some cases, I would argue that the genre has become a means of catharsis for the public. Wondery, Spotify Originals and other true crime podcast studios allow listeners to explore the dark side of humanity from a safe distance. People can use these podcasts to work through past traumas, safely confront their fears or interrupt everyday life’s drudgery. It’s essential to note that the genre only represents a subset of the crimes that take place in the world. Usually, only the most extreme forms are drawn upon for storytelling, such as serial killing and rape.

 It is important not to fully buy into the sensationalization presented by true crime stories. The constant consumption of dramatized tales depicting humanity at its worst can be dangerous. After all, everything is better in moderation, and this is especially true for complex topics such as domestic abuse or assault. The CSI Effect, which is the idea that jurors have preconceived notions before entering a courtroom as a result of watching shows like CSI, is a representation of true crime’s popularity growth over recent years. An exaggerated portrayal of criminals through television and media can lead to unrealistic paranoia or speculation.

One of the most recent additions to the spur of true crime stories comes from Netflix. The streaming service recently released “Dahmer – Monster: the Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” a series about the infamous serial killer. The show’s alleged intent was to focus on Dahmer’s victims, as most true crime stories do; true crime stories build an emotional attachment between the consumers and the victims. However, the development team overlooked the deeper narratives that could have been constructed and focused solely on the gruesome criminal acts that Dahmer performed. In the show, secondary characters were quickly reduced to sideshow attractions at the hands of a despicable man. It is a failed attempt at a true crime masterpiece. Netflix had the material to delve deeper into the story, but simply explored cold-blooded murder, episode after episode. 

There is also evidence that Netflix acted insensitively toward Dahmer’s victims and their families. Rita Isbell, sister of Errol Lindsey, who was murdered by Dahmer when he was only 19 years old, spoke out in a BBC interview. Isbell expressed concern that the company didn’t consensually approach Errol’s story, as they recreated Isbell’s emotional 1992 victim impact court statement word-for-word in the show without her permission.

Additionally, some of the victims’ relatives shared that Netflix was profiting off of crimes they were not justly depicting, as the series’ focus is primarily on Dahmer. Netflix undermined the epitome of a true crime story: educating the public and promoting compassion and empathy instead of pure horror. There was zero acknowledgement on Netflix’s part for not bringing awareness to the identities, lives and individuals who fell victim to the crimes. Without a voice, the public only sees a black-and-white image of these criminal offenses. By excluding victims from the narrative, Netflix belittled victims and their stories, which does not reinforce a positive connotation between true crime and fans. 

Psychotherapist F. Diane Barth reinforces that true crime can be beneficial as individuals can find inspiration in seeing survivors work through trauma and overcome psychological obstacles in the recovery process. It’s more than just seeing the ins and outs of a criminal’s mind or becoming an armchair detective — crime television genuinely allows people to find comfort in relating to others, especially through media representation. 

On the other hand, some viewers and listeners treasure true crime at its base value: twisted entertainment. Consumers attempting to understand the fundamental social taboo that evil stands for. As an apparent violation of a “just world,” crime stands out against our perception of right and wrong. The discomfort and vulnerability these shows bring are typically resolved if one either detaches themselves from the media or finishes the series in its entirety. Both paths can call about a sense of justice in order in an otherwise dark setting.

Olivia Teare, FCRH ’26, is an anthropology major and peace and justice studies and linguistics minor from Duxbury, M.A.