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

Abstract

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.