TW - homophobia, sexual harassment
The term ‘WtFOCK’ became the most googled term in Belgium last year. With a massive cult following the Belgian online series is incredibly influential for its viewers, aged 12 to 22. #Triggered talked with Joris Bruyninckx, who served as an on-set psychologist for the show and its young actors: “The issues shown in the WtFOCK are just so goddamn realistic.”
Robbe (Willem Herbots) struggles with his feelings after falling for a boy in WtFOCK: Sputnikmedia
WtFOCK is a web series about the lives of a group of teenagers in Antwerp. It’s a remake of the original Norwegian version, Skam, made by director and writer Julie Andem, who spent months travelling through Norway talking to teenagers about their experiences.
Skam got so popular that equally globally famous remakes are now being made across the entire world: from Germany to Texas. Thus originated WtFOCK, which immediately got praised by numerous viewers for showing the real struggles teenagers go through every day. It depicts issues like homophobia, sexual assault, drugs, eating disorders, and bipolar disorder.
Goddamn realistic
Every season, the show has a new lead actor, which is always a character from the same friend group. The second season revolved around Zoë; a confident feminist who always has something clever to say. She falls in love with the popular boy and all is well for a while, until Zoë wakes up next to her boyfriend’s brother after a night of drinking, having no recollection of what happened. The viewer gets taken along in her journey of trying to find out whether she's been sexually assaulted or not.
Joris explains: “The issues shown in WtFOCK are just so goddamn realistic. Just look at the numbers. 1 out of 3 girls has been harassed before the age of 16. We really tried to convey what all these girls must have felt.”
In the third season, main character Robbe deals with internalised homophobia when he falls in love with a boy. The original version didn’t include this character’s struggle, which makes WtFOCK just a bit more special than its predecessor.
Empathy with viewers
If you’ve read our article about Skins, you probably know the effect that television can have on viewers. By possibly romanticising mental health problems, teenagers with a predisposition for mental illness may be tempted to do things they never would have done without first seeing them on screen.
Joris explains how the web series showed mental health issues without romanticising them: “The reason why WtFOCK is so fantastic is that they remain at the surface of mental illness. They never go too in-depth, which creates a sense of belonging for the viewer because they can recognise themselves in the characters. But it also gives them enough distance. That way they don’t get triggered by the things they see.”
“We added a trigger warning before every single clip that could potentially have a bad effect on the viewer’s health. Before we aired that scene with Zoë, we had already created a whole campaign to inform the viewers about sexual harassment.”
“We’re so used to romanticising mental illness because we romanticise the creative part of it. But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows.”
According to Joris, WtFOCK's production company, Sputnik, really tried to consider the viewer's mental health: “I got asked specifically to help on this show. It’s not necessary to have a psychologist present, but sometimes you get asked, and it’s obvious you’re used as insurance in case something goes wrong. Sputnik obviously has a lot of empathy for its viewers, unlike many Hollywood production companies who only care about the shock-factor.”
Joris compares WtFOCK to 13 Reasons Why, a Netflix show that had received an immense amount of criticism after showing a graphic suicide scene: “I started watching it with my daughter but quit after three episodes. Hollywood is dripping right off of it. The main character’s issues are so externalised, while actually suicidal feelings come from within. Everything they did was to create shock and drama. It’s so far from reality.”
Hannah's (Katherine Langford) suicide is explicitly shown in 13 Reasons Why: Netflix
“You have to be careful when showing suicide on TV because it can get romanticised so easily. As people, we’re vulnerable to the tormented but intelligent person. It’s been like that forever. Look at Van Gogh: he cuts off his ear but look at the things he created! We’re so used to romanticising mental illness because we romanticise the creative part of it. But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Mental illness is incredibly tough and it’s hard to live with people who have to deal with those issues every single day.”
“13 Reasons Why is dangerous because the viewer can identify with the main character. If she’s recognisable, you feel the same way and you see the option to kill yourself, you may think that’s the only option out there.”
WtFOCK is great in that area because it shows Robbe going to a psychiatrist and Zoë reviewing legal options against her boyfriend’s brother. It shows hopeful options and a way out for viewers who experience the same issues.
Zoë's (Veerle Dejaeger) character experiences emotional trauma in WtFOCK : Sputnikmedia
Anti-binge
The format of the show goes against everything we’re used to today. Instead of immediately posting a season on a streaming service, WtFOCK posts small, real-time snippets throughout the day on their own website. Either the viewers get a notification on Instagram that a new snippet has been posted, or they have already been refreshing the webpage all day, waiting for a new update.
“It’s not only a genius format, it’s also a much healthier one for the viewers. Almost everyone binges a show on Netflix nowadays. You can’t binge WtFOCK. Every snippet is about 3 minutes long. Sometimes you have to wait hours for a new update and that gives enough time for you to talk to your friends about what happened. It opens up a discussion about the topics in the show and in that way, it helps to break the taboo that’s still too present today.”
A new season of WtFOCK is currently in the making. Follow the show's Instagram page to stay up to date.
If you think you've been sexually assaulted, consult www.seksueelgeweld.be for Belgium. International readers can contact www.rainn.org and chat online with a trained staff member who can provide you confidential crisis support.
If you're struggling with your own sexuality, you can contact www.lumi.be for Belgium. For international helplines, click this link.
If you ever think about suicide or self-harm, and are in need of a conversation, then you can always contact the Suicide Hotline on the number 1813 or www.zelfmoord1813.be for Belgium. For international helplines, please click this link.
Text: © Femke Lippens