Netflix’s Run Away is the latest show to fail the Gen Z social media test

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Just so you know, I recently finished watching the new Harlan Coben thriller, Run Away, on Netflix and really enjoyed it.

My partner and I (ages 23 and 24) found ourselves wanting to look away a few times. It’s not that we’re easily disturbed, but we’re tired of the unrealistic and often uncomfortable portrayals of life we see on social media.

As someone from Gen Z, ‘Run Away’ isn’t unique in its portrayal of social media – many shows feel fake and unrealistic when dealing with it.

The series Run Away immediately plunges the viewer into the action. We first see Simon Green (James Nesbitt) awkwardly telling his daughter to get off ‘Tiktak’ – a purposeful misstep that establishes the show’s slightly off-kilter feel. This is quickly followed by a video of a fight between Simon and his missing daughter Paige’s (Ellie de Lange) boyfriend, Aaron Corval (Thomas Flynn), going viral.

Just ten minutes into the first episode, a fight—which was filmed by a popular YouTuber—already has two million views. Simon’s lawyer, Jessica (played by Tracy Ann Oberman), comments that “these things spread quickly.” But it’s hard to believe it happened that fast—it seems like an exaggeration.

As a younger member of Gen Z, I often find the way social media is used in TV and movies feels unnatural. It often comes across as a quick and easy way to seem modern, but it doesn’t feel authentic – it’s like the creators know about social media, but don’t actually use it themselves.

Netflix has a tendency to rely on familiar tropes. In ‘Emily in Paris,’ the show’s protagonist, Emily (Lily Collins), quickly gains popularity on social media simply by updating her profile and posting visually appealing photos of Paris.

Emily is skilled at social media and understands digital platforms well. However, the way she quickly gains followers with little effort isn’t typical or sustainable.

Social media is so crowded these days that getting a lot of attention is really difficult, and becoming a popular influencer doesn’t happen quickly.

Like many shows on Netflix, including Ginny & Georgia, sometimes the dialogue feels awkward with forced slang and internet phrases – things like saying ‘it’s the (blank) for me’.

Adding these elements actually makes the show feel dated. Social media changes incredibly quickly, with trends appearing and disappearing every week. This means that dialogue that feels fresh when the show first comes out can quickly sound old-fashioned, making the show feel awkward instead of modern.

Being Gen Z doesn’t mean everything feels awkward to watch. Some shows cleverly integrate social media without relying on obvious effects like distracting graphics or cringeworthy slang.

The comedy-drama series Hacks, previously known as HBO Max, realistically portrays the world of social media.

Ava Daniels, a 25-year-old writer living in Los Angeles, is having a hard time finding work after getting caught up in a cancellation controversy. Meanwhile, veteran Las Vegas comedian Deborah Vance is facing her own challenge: becoming less relevant in a changing comedy landscape.

Hacks effectively uses social media in its show for a few key reasons. One major factor is that it doesn’t visually emphasize social media accounts on screen. It’s often distracting when TV shows try to recreate social media feeds or pages, and Hacks smartly avoids this by simply not showing them directly.

What I really appreciate about this show is how seamlessly it weaves social media into the story. It’s not just there as a gimmick; it actually moves the plot forward. Watching Ava and Deborah use – and sometimes get tripped up by – social media feels so real, and I think that’s a huge part of what makes the show so authentic. It really explores how quickly your reputation can be shaped – or damaged – online, and it does it in a way that feels incredibly genuine.

When something truly goes viral, it feels immediate and widespread, unlike the way some viral moments are presented – like a collection of short videos, which doesn’t quite capture the real experience.

The show respects its viewers’ understanding of the digital world and how it affects everyday concerns, like their jobs. It avoids using trendy slang or contrived internet phenomena, instead focusing on realistic consequences that people can genuinely connect with.

The popular show The Bear realistically portrays the challenges restaurants face in the age of social media, highlighting how online reviews can impact their success.

Carmy Berzatto’s restaurant doesn’t become popular overnight; its success grows steadily thanks to a lot of effort. As more people notice the restaurant, the pressure mounts, reflecting how quickly things can change in the age of social media and the challenges that come with it.

The show deliberately steers clear of trendy slang, fictional apps, and excessive focus on social media. It respects the audience’s intelligence, trusting they’ll grasp how important social media success is to the characters’ goals in their everyday lives.

The best shows use social media not just as a backdrop, but to show how it impacts their characters. Because social media is such a big part of everyday life, it needs to feel real – avoid clichés like characters constantly talking about trending videos, over-the-top notifications, or trying too hard to sound current. Those things just pull viewers out of the story.

To feel modern, a TV show’s presence on social media needs to be polished and professional. Poorly managed accounts can actually damage a show’s reputation, especially with viewers who are very familiar with digital platforms.

I’m really excited because ‘Run Away’ is finally available to stream on Netflix! If you don’t have a subscription yet, it starts at just £5.99 a month. And good news for those with Sky Glass or Virgin Media – you can watch it through those platforms too!

Don’t miss out on “Run Away”! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app now for daily TV recommendations and the latest features.

Authors

Lizzie Rix

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2026-01-09 19:35