During July and August, Netflix released or acquired at least 15 documentaries and docuseries. Titles like Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser, Katrina Come Hell and High Water, and several from the Trainwreck series, including Trainwreck: P.I. Moms and Trainwreck: Storm Area 51.

   Lately, one of the most talked about releases is Unknown Number: The High School Catfish, a docuseries about a high school cyberbullying case. It premiered on August 29 and quickly hit the Top 10 list. But among the millions who watched, not everyone shared the same opinion. Broughton teacher Mr. Barkley said, “It was overstimulating. I decided to stop watching after I realized how long it would be. I think the Netflixification of information has become too much, and other streaming services do a better job.”

   According to The Business Model Analyst, Netflix generates revenue mainly from its subscriptions but has recently been losing members to increased competition. Major rivals like Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, and Amazon Prime are catching up with Netflix’s numbers with diverse content offerings. 

   But why are the documentaries getting worse? According to Medium Magazine, “ultimately, it breaks down to the following issues: presentation, storytelling, and ethics.” It appears that Netflix prioritizes a dramatic, easily consumable series instead of focusing on accuracy and sensitivity.

   For example, Netflix’s Trainwreck: The Astroworld Tragedy faced criticism for its filmmaking style. The show’s eerie music and overused shots of frightened fans seemed like it was trying to provoke emotions and exploit instead of telling the story with objective evidence.

   However, some still feel positively about the documentary. Broughton student Eleni Kefala said, “It was really interesting to see the perspective of the people who were actually there, and to see that the whole thing was Live Nation’s fault.” Another student, Hadley Demarco, said she was “invested” in Bad Influence: The Dark Side of Kidfluencing.

   The mixed reviews make you wonder if Netflix is really prioritizing quality over quantity and doing anything they can to attract and retain subscribers, or just giving the people what they want. Either way, Netflix documentaries are getting people talking.