The Impact of The Series 13 Reasons Why on Different Audiences

My generation is entering a new phase in time where printed newspapers have become outdated and communicating with people all over the world simply requires a cell phone. In this era of globalization where time is precious, new methods need to be found that are worthy of the attention of the modern-day audience for important issues. The popular online streaming service Netflix achieves this by removing advertisements and regularly updating the content to keep it appealing to all audiences. Netflix publishes movies and series from diverse genres and attempts to initiate a debate by creating a series with controversial topics, this is certainly the case in the popular new series 13 Reasons Why released in March 2017. They try to raise awareness for suicide and mental health by telling a story about Hannah Baker’s suicide and how people in her surroundings affected her decision to end her life. This essay will explore the different interpretations of an adult’s and a child’s perspective. It unfolds the idea that multiple audiences can receive the intended message within one series by incorporating several different angles in scenes to allow each person to grasp the message. 

First of all, the ability to see the difference between the fictional series and real life differs extremely between the viewers. Adults are capable to distinguish reality and drama in the series because they are more mature and they are not able to relate as closely to the protagonist Hannah who commits suicide since their high-school years are far behind them. They are more prone to view the series as a graphic story that reveals why suicide and mental health issues should not be a taboo topic, which is currently the case in many societies, and that it deserves to be a higher priority. Teenagers, on the other hand, can picture themselves as Hannah because many are currently experiencing bullying, stress or the pressure of other people’s opinions. It is, therefore, more difficult for them to understand that this is fiction and not reality. The difference between this series and the original book by Jay Asher is that the visual image along with the sound effects has a larger impact. Seeing and hearing someone scream in tears creates a dramatic and dark atmosphere, in contrast to solely using an exclamation mark in a book. This is why series enlarge the difficulty to make the distinction between fiction and reality because children can effortlessly envision the scenarios.

Secondly, the audience has diverse ideas about the message the series spreads. There are those who believe it glorifies suicide and those who think it starts an important discussion. Although not everybody has the same opinion about the series, many people realize the impact of the series and are able to talk about the issues that are addressed. Despite the fact that a mature rating was given to the series due to the graphic content, this series is still popular among children. The American organization NASP released a warning for educators and parents to be aware of the impact the series may have on children and ‘reinforce the message that suicide is not a solution to problems’. Certainly, for the teenagers that interpret the series as a glamorous story about suicide this series is truly dangerous. However, 13 Reasons Why also allows children to talk to each other and to adults about their struggles. Many adults have shown concerns about the series and it has made them more aware of what children are going through, specifically the cyberbullying aspect in the series teaches adults about the advanced bullying nowadays. Both audiences have several interpretations of the series’ message which suggests that personal interpretation plays a role and not solely the general opinion of the audience type. However, generically speaking children are more inclined to be influenced by the glamorizing message. 

Finally, the way the controversial topics influence the audiences depends on their social upbringing. One of the most significant storylines in the series is about Hannah being raped by Bryce. In the season one finale, Hannah seeks help from the school counselor, Mr. Porter, who advises her to move on after the assault. In our society sexual abuse is often diminished and especially after #MeToo movement went viral Porter’s response strikes a nerve. Adults have been raised in a period where sexual misconduct, especially within small communities, is kept secret and now they are telling their stories. Therefore, the series ignites the viewer’s frustration when Hannah is silenced by Mr. Porter. Children nowadays grow up in a time where sexual activity is no longer as much of a taboo topic as it used to be. On the one hand, they are more likely to speak about their experiences. On the other hand, this makes them less aware of when something is considered a violation of their privacy, such as ‘bum-pinching’, because sexual harassment occurs in public as well. In the series, teenagers can relate to Hannah’s peers who struggle to decide whether to take action once they find out about the rape, because the boundary between consensual sex and rape is difficult for them to comprehend. For adults, especially parents, it is heart-wrenching to watch the events unfold that lead to a young girl’s suicide. The series evokes frustrations about these issues being a taboo topic to discuss. It leaves the viewers’ feeling wistful because if she would have received help it might have prevented her death. Adults are confronted by the fact that by ignoring tough issues like they are used to, problems are not solved. For children, it is an alarming thought that they watch these series and are unable to distinguish the series from real life, particularly because of their ability to relate to the characters. 

Overall, the realism of the series, the message and the induced feelings about the content achieve the general purpose that taboo topics, such as suicide, need more attention in society.