Crime Stories: The cost of chasing viewership between information and exploitation
Daval, Jubillar, Dupont de Ligonnès… These names no longer refer only to human tragedies, but to “cases” that have become serialized sagas, divided into episodes and broadcast in real time. From television to social media, these events are turning into viral phenomena, followed by millions of “viewers.” Thus, the line between information and entertainment is gradually blurring, but at what cost? What drives the media today to seize upon these dramas and turn them into stories that are continually reexamined and fueled?
Responding to the race for audience share and circulation
While this phenomenon is rooted in the public’s genuine fascination with news stories, traditional media outlets, faced with competition from social media, can no longer ignore the fact that this dynamic is now an essential tool for maintaining audience share and boosting circulation.
Social media has significantly changed the way news stories are covered. Platforms such as TikTok and Instagram capitalizes on the twists and turns of criminal cases in real time, amplifying the phenomenon and generating viral discussions. The Dupont de Ligonnès case is a prime example: a never-ending saga fueled by unverified hypotheses and spectacular twists and turns. Influencer Aquababe, for example, launched a veritable online manhunt to find the alleged fugitive, gathering more than 190,000 followers in a week on an Instagram account dedicated to the case, where theories and updates are regularly posted.
Faced with this frenzy, traditional media outlets, whether print, 24-hour news channels, or generalist radio stations, are forced to adapt in order to retain their audience. These news stories are often presented in a dramatic manner, enriched by analyses from experts, lawyers, or criminologists on news channels, or explored in depth in feature articles.
Promoting a political agenda
When political issues are added to this mix, the dynamics take on a whole new dimension. Crime then becomes a tool for activating ideological reflexes, fueling debates that go far beyond the case itself. Femicide, Islamophobia, pedophilia… These issues are often fueled by news stories to crystallize social and political tensions. A striking example of this political exploitation is the case of little Lola. The tragic murder of this young girl in October 2022 was quickly seized upon by several political figures, who used it to make virulent speeches on immigration and security. The victim’s family itself denounced this political exploitation, pointing out that their pain had been used for ideological purposes. Thus, the line between information and exploitation becomes blurred.
Where to draw the line?
The temptation to satisfy the appetite of an ever-hungrier audience is omnipresent, but it raises a moral dilemma: how far can we exploit these tragedies without risking turning human suffering into spectacles? Faced with constant escalation, it is essential that lawmakers address the issue and ask themselves how far we can go in narrating and consuming these tragedies without compromising the privacy and dignity of the families affected, distorting reality, and influencing the course of the investigation.
Eric Giuily, President of CLAI
Nicolas Delaval, Account Director
Julie Ardoint, Consultant