A content analysis of aggression in Netflix original, adolescent-directed series’ subtitles

ABSTRACT

Given the risk for aggression in the media to potentially influence adolescents’ cognitions and behaviors related to aggression, we performed a content analysis to examine the different types of aggression referenced in all subtitles of all episodes of eight Netflix original, adolescent-directed series (as of the end of 2019). Across all series, there was higher number of references to physical aggression and verbal insult, but fewer references to rumor spreading. Also, the most frequently appearing aggression term was “kill,” suggesting lethal physical aggression was commonly referenced. For individual series, different series had different patterns of aggression references. These findings provide an overview on the different types of aggression referenced in Netflix original, adolescent-directed series and suggest adolescents may be affected differently upon exposure to different patterns of aggression references in these series.

KEYWORDS:

• Adolescent
• aggression
• content analysis
• Netflix
• subtitle

Data availability statement

The data underlying this manuscript will be shared upon request to the corresponding author.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grants from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or non-profit sectors.

Notes on contributors

Muheng Yu

Muheng Yu (MA, University of Wisconsin–Madison) is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Communication at the University of California, Davis. His research interests include social media use and psychological well-being, media effects, and cyber bullying.

Michael C. Carter

Michael C. Carter (Ph.D., University of California, Davis) is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. His research focuses on the intersection of media and mental health – particularly, social media use and adolescent well-being.

Drew P. Cingel

Drew P. Cingel (Ph.D., Northwestern University, USA) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of California, Davis. He studies the intersection between human development, media use, and media effects, focusing on children’s moral development, as well as social media, adolescent development, and mental health.

Jeanette B. Ruiz

Jeanette B. Ruiz (Ph.D., University of California, Davis) is an Associate Professor of Teaching in the Department of Communication at the University of California, Davis. Her current research examines the impact of social networks on public health communication.