Summary of "Our obsession with true crime is weird"

Exploring Our Obsession with True Crime

The video examines the modern fascination with true crime by blending personal anecdotes, historical context, and a critical analysis of the genre’s impact on society and individuals. The creator identifies as a casual true crime consumer—having binged podcasts like My Favorite Murder and explored serial killer Wikipedia pages during college—but stops short of full obsession due to anxiety and the emotional toll it can take.

Historical Origins and Evolution of True Crime

1500s: True crime began as moral cautionary tales.
19th Century: Sensationalized stories like Jack the Ripper fueled detective fiction (e.g., Sherlock Holmes) and cheap “penny dreadfuls,” primarily consumed by young men. This contrasts with today’s predominantly female true crime audience.
20th Century: The genre expanded with influential books (In Cold Blood), documentaries (The Thin Blue Line), and televised events like the O.J. Simpson trial, which captivated over half the U.S. population and helped birth the 24-hour news cycle and reality TV.
21st Century: The rise of podcasts (e.g., Serial in 2014) and YouTube creators such as Bailey Sarian democratized true crime content, fueling a surge in “internet sleuths” who often speculate wildly on ongoing cases.

The Double-Edged Sword of Internet Sleuthing

The creator highlights a recent quadruple murder case involving college students in Idaho that sparked a frenzy of armchair detective work on TikTok and Facebook. This led to harmful false accusations against innocent people, including a young history professor who filed a defamation lawsuit after being baselessly accused.

This example underscores the real-world damage internet sleuthing can cause—from ruined reputations to threats and harassment—especially when due process is ignored in favor of viral speculation.

However, the video also acknowledges positive outcomes of internet sleuthing, such as:

Identifying rioters from the January 6th Capitol attack.
Solving cold cases neglected by under-resourced police.
Aiding investigations like the Gabby Petito case through crowd-sourced evidence.

Critiques and Social Commentary

“Missing White Woman Syndrome”: The video critiques the disproportionate attention given to white female victims compared to victims of color, noting a slow but growing reckoning with racial biases within the genre.
Gender Dynamics: Women dominate the true crime audience, possibly drawn to the genre as a form of survival education—trying to understand how violence happens and how to avoid it.
Mental Health Risks: Consuming too much true crime can lead to heightened anxiety and hypervigilance, with serious physiological effects.

Responsible Consumption and Final Thoughts

The creator calls for responsible consumption of true crime content:

Enjoying true crime is fine, but publicly speculating on ongoing investigations without evidence can cause real harm.
Internet sleuthing is better suited to cold cases where police resources are limited.
Greater focus should be placed on marginalized victims often overlooked by mainstream media.

Throughout the video, the tone balances empathy, humor, and critical insight—jokes about “keys between fingers” for safety, playful self-awareness about anxiety and obsession, and frustration with reckless internet detectives.

A personal skincare product sponsorship is included, tying into the creator’s candid sharing about struggles with acne, adding a relatable and lighthearted moment.

Personalities Featured

Main Creator/Narrator: An unnamed true crime content creator with a dry, thoughtful style.
Mentioned Figures:
- Bailey Sarian (YouTuber)
- Ashley Solves Mysteries (TikToker involved in defamation lawsuit)
- Rebecca Schofield (professor falsely accused)
Famous Cases Referenced: Jack the Ripper, O.J. Simpson, Gabby Petito

Summary

This video is a nuanced, engaging exploration of why we’re obsessed with true crime, its historical roots, and the gender and racial dynamics at play. It highlights the double-edged sword of internet sleuthing, mixing humor, personal reflection, and critical commentary to reveal both the fascination and dangers of consuming and participating in true crime culture today.