"Primetime" Creates a Chris Hansen Resurgence in Gen-Z
By Isla K.
In the early 2000’s Chris Hansen hosted his show ‘To Catch A Predator’ on Dateline NBC where he would work to catch child predators that try to meet teens online. Lots of debate regarding online security and the ethics behind Hansen’s reality tv show once it reached larger audiences. Recently A24 got their hands on the story and released Primetime, a drama starring Robert Pattinson. The release of the Primetime movie sparked a new wave of interest in the Chris Hansen case in Gen Z. Mountain Range students and staff share their opinions on Chris Hansen and the reason for his resurgence.
Mountain Range staff who were alive while ‘To Catch A Predator’ was airing shared their thoughts on the overall premise and what issues it brought to the audience’s attention. The reality show aired from 2004 to 2007 when the dangers of the internet were relatively unfamiliar to most people. A BBC article acknowledged “the popularity of Hansen's show arguably spawned a new era of sensationalism in reality TV, following the foundational era of "social experiment "". Tennis Coach Avery Kline shares, “ Especially when the internet and chat rooms were fairly new to many people, the idea your child could get exploited or preyed upon was very scary”. BBC admits “ It was a moment when young people were [using the internet] in a remarkably unregulated way, and adults found out about it. It horrified them”.
Despite the work Hansen did to expose online child predation, much controversy started surrounding his motives and ethics that “ blurred the boundaries of reportage, real-life policing and entertainment”. MRHS staff varied in their opinions on the motives behind the show. Some thinking Hansen genuinely wanted to build child predation awareness by “informing audiences of the risks of online chat rooms” argued Social Studies teacher Mr. Miloserny. While others believe he was seeking attention such as science teacher Mr. Germanoski who claimed Hansen was the “OG Clout Farmer”.
‘ To Catch A Predator’ started a new culture in reality tv that is still prevalent today not only on TV but also on social media. BBC argues, “ the attention economy proves that we're still gravitating towards similarly extreme content on social media”. Miloserny explains “When we examine the show with a more nuanced approach, it reveals the exploitative nature of a lot of reality TV”. Kline discusses the way “shocking reality TV became very mainstream… The Jerry Springer show was wild, and eventually scripted. COPS was very popular…that show in particular targeted poor and minority groups that just made them a laugh line”.
Chris Hansen’s show recently had a resurgence with the A24 drama Primetime starring Robert Pattinson. In a poll taken of selected MRHS students, 80% claimed they have seen or at least heard of the movie. Since all MRHS students weren’t alive while ‘To Catch A Predator’ was airing, the sudden interest in the case can be pointed to many different reasons. In Salon’s article entitled “ Why Gen Z Sees Itself In Primetime” it brought out that “Gen z and digital natives grew up in this extreme surveillance state…And while younger people have been raised in a vigilantly monitored world, that doesn't make the lack of privacy any less disconcerting “. Every student surveyed said that they are concerned about increased surveillance and lack of privacy.
More than 50% of students who got interviewed stated they heard of the movie on TikTok ads and reviews. Lots of promotion has been going on months prior to the movie release in movie previews and on social media. When movies get promoted so much it builds anticipation in the audience, especially if it's being done on a platform like TikTok whose primary audience is Gen Z.
90’s and 2000’s trends have recently been making a comeback in younger people. In fact, every MRHS student that was surveyed said that they are actively interested in 90’s and 2000’s trends. For example interest has been shown in digital cameras, 2000’s fashion, music, etc. Senior Kamilla H. says “I think we have always been very into bold styles, y2k is a very cool and diverse aesthetic”. Having never experienced the 90’s and early 2000’s ourselves, we rely on movies and tv shows to interpret what life was like for us. Wyatt W. an 11th grader explains that Gen Z “wants to live in a time they romanticize but never experienced “.
Despite Gen Z being “ digital natives” Salon brings out that they clearly “ feel cheated out of a life where surveillance wasn't constant”. Because of Gen Z feeling left out of life in the 90’s and 2000’s when people had more digital privacy, it could be the reason young people have an interest in Chris Hansen and his show. ‘To Catch A Predator’ started a new style of reality tv and culture of hyper surveillance and lack of digital privacy. Therefore, the reveal of where this normality started could answer many of Gen Z’s unanswered questions about their day to day surveillanced lives.
