Creators of Mean Girls (2024) sought input from teens to understand the dynamics of the social hierarchy in high schools today. Directors Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr. aimed to capture the evolving nature of teenage social life in their musical adaptation of the film. Specifically, they wanted to explore how they act IRL versus online, as social media has changed the way young people interact with one another in their everyday lives. Jayne and Perez both worked closely on developing these new themes within the movie, while also staying true to Tina Fey’s original message that “young women should support each other.” YPulse research shows social media strongly influences young users’ perception of themselves—especially teen girls, as the majority say social media makes them feel bad about their appearance. (The Wrap)
