Coachella kicks off 2025 music festival season: Your guide to the lineups, dates and must-see performances
Reneé Rapp onstage at Coachella in 2024. (for Coachella)
Dust off your fanny pack — music festival season has officially arrived. Whether you're planning to camp at Bonnaroo, figuring out your looks for Coachella or just curious about who's dominating the outdoor stages this summer, we've got the ultimate guide for you.
From must-see performances to the hidden gems worth showing up early for, here's what you need to know about this year's biggest and best music festivals, including headliners, can't-miss acts and ticket information. (All ticket prices listed reflect what's currently available for purchase at the time of publication.)
Coachella
Sabrina Carpenter at Coachella in 2024. (for Coachella)
Kicking off festival season, Coachella returns for its 24th year at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, Calif., running over two weekends. Known for setting the tone for the season in music, fashion and festival culture, this year's event promises another immersive experience across several main stages and tents.
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🗓️ When: April 11-13 & April 18-20
🌎 Where: Indio, Calif.
🎸 Headliners: Lady Gaga, Green Day, Post Malone
🕶️Don't miss: Missy Elliott, Charli XCX, Megan Thee Stallion, Travis Scott
🎟 Tickets: $599-$1,399
⚡ Full lineup: Click here 👈
Stagecoach
Eric Church at Stagecoach Country Music Festival in 2024. (Allen J. Schaben /Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Following in Coachella's footsteps, Stagecoach is turning up the heat in the desert this year, with some of the biggest names in country music headlining the three-day event. Diplo's genre-bending HonkyTonk tent, now in its third iteration, is sure to be a good time to boot.
🗓️ When: April 25-27
🌎 Where: Indio, Calf.
🎸 Headliners: Zach Bryan, Jelly Roll, Luke Combs
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🕶️ Don't miss: Diplo, Brothers Osborne, Lana Del Rey, Nelly
🎟 Tickets: Sold out. Fans can join a waitlist.
⚡ Full lineup: Click here 👈
BeachLife Music Festival
Seal onstage at BeachLife 2024. (Courtesy of BeachLife Music Festival)
The festival returns to the scenic waterfront of Redondo Beach, Calif., offering a three-day celebration of music, art and — you guessed it — beach life. Attendees can enjoy the likes of Lenny Kravitz and the Beach Boys while wiggling their toes in the sand.
🗓️ When: May 2-4
🌎 Where: Redondo Beach, Calif.
🎸 Headliners: Lenny Kravitz, Sublime, Alanis Morissette
🕶️Don't miss: The Beach Boys with John Stamos, Jackson Browne, Pretenders
🎟 Tickets: $199-$4,999
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⚡ Full lineup: Click here 👈
RiverBeat Music Festival
Lauryn Hill at RiverBeat 2024. (Keith Griner/RiverBeat)
Returning to Tom Lee Park in Memphis, the festival is back for its second year with a lineup of hip-hop, rock, pop and more. The RiverBeat made history in 2024 as the first major music event held along the Mississippi River following the park's $61 million renovation.
🗓️ When: May 2-4
🌎 Where: Memphis, Tenn.
🎸 Headliners: Missy Elliott, the Killers, Anderson .Paak & the Free Nationals
🕶️Don't miss: Benson Boone, Khruangbin, Ludacris, Public Enemy, Busta Rhymes
🎟 Tickets: $85-$919
⚡ Full lineup: Click here 👈
Outlaw Music Festival
Willie Nelson at Outlaw Music Festival 2018 in Charlotte, N.C. ()
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the festival returns with a lineup of legendary and contemporary artists. Spearheaded by Willie Nelson & Family, this year's tour features performances by Bob Dylan, Billy Strings, Sheryl Crow and more, offering a rich blend of Americana, rock and country music. Be sure to check your venues ahead of time, as some lineups may change.
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🗓️ When: May 13-Sept. 19
🌎 Where: Opening in Phoenix and ending in East Troy, Wis., with various tour stops throughout the U.S.
🎸 Headliners: Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan, Billy Strings, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, Sheryl Crow
🕶️Don't miss: Lake Street Dive, Lucinda Williams, Wilco
🎟 Tickets: $35-$800+ (prices vary by tour stop)
⚡ Full lineup: Click here 👈
Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) Las Vegas
The night sky above Electric Daisy Carnival at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. (Las Vegas Review-Journal/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
One of the nation's largest electronic dance music festivals returns to Las Vegas, promising a magical weekend with over 250 artists across multiple stages at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
🗓️ When: May 16-18
🌎 Where: Las Vegas
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🎸 Headliners: Dom Dolla, Alesso, Afrojack, Alison Wonderland
🕶️Don't miss: Loud Luxury, Alok, Gesaffelstein, Martin Garrix
🎟 Tickets: Sold out. Fans can join a waitlist.
⚡ Full lineup: Click here 👈
Sand in My Boots
Crowds gather at the Hangout Music Festival 2023. This year, the festival is partnering with Morgan Wallen for the inaugural Sand in My Boots festival. (Hangout Music Festival)
The inaugural music festival, curated by Morgan Wallen, will take place on the white-sand beaches of Gulf Shores, Ala. Billed as the 15th-anniversary edition of the Hangout Music Festival, the three-day event boasts a range of artists in its lineup, with a unique beachside concert experience.
🗓️ When: May 16-18
🌎 Where: Gulf Shores, Ala.
🎸 Headliners: Morgan Wallen, Post Malone, Brooks & Dunn, Hardy
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🕶️Don't miss: Riley Green, Diplo, Three 6 Mafia, 3 Doors Down
🎟 Tickets: Sold out. Fans can join a waitlist.
⚡ Full lineup: Click here 👈
BottleRock
Singer-songwriter and guitarist Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam at BottleRock 2024. ()
The annual festival is set to deliver an unforgettable Memorial Day weekend in Napa Valley. Celebrating the fusion of world-class music, gourmet food and premium wines, this year's festival boasts a lineup catering to all musical tastes.
🗓️ When: May 23-25
🌎 Where: Napa Valley, Calif.
🎸 Headliners: Green Day, Justin Timberlake, Noah Kahan
🕶️Don't miss: Kate Hudson, 4 Non Blondes, E-40
🎟 Tickets: $233-$456
⚡ Full lineup: Click here 👈
OutLoud
Adam Lambert at OutLoud Music Festival 2024 in West Hollywood, Calif. (Sarah Morris/WireImage)
The festival returns to West Hollywood Park for WeHo Pride 2025 with its boldest lineup yet. The two-day outdoor celebration is headlined by Lizzo, Lil Nas X and Kim Petras, setting the stage for a weekend of queerness and pop spectacle.
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🗓️ When: May 31-June 1
🌎 Where: West Hollywood, Calif.
🎸 Headliners: Lizzo, Lil Nas X
🕶️Don't miss: Honey Dijon, Paris Hilton, Sasha Colby
🎟 Tickets: $204-$763
⚡ Full lineup: Click here 👈
The Governors Ball
Chappell Roan at the Governors Ball 2024 in New York City. (Nina Westervelt/Billboard via Getty Images)
Celebrating its 15th anniversary, the Governors Ball (or GovBall) returns to Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The festival will feature over 60 artists across three stages, showcasing a diverse lineup that spans pop, hip-hop, indie and rock.
🗓️ When: June 6-8
🌎 Where: NYC borough of Queens
🎸 Headliners: Benson Boone, Olivia Rodrigo, Feid, Hozier, Glass Animals, Tyler, the Creator
🕶️Don't miss: MK.Gee, T-Pain, Conan Gray, Mt. Joy, Clairo
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🎟 Tickets: $169-$899
⚡ Full lineup: Click here 👈
World Pride Music Festival
Jake Resnicow's Dreamland, pictured at NYC Pride 2024, is partnering with Capital Pride to serve as the premier music festival for WorldPride in Washington, D.C. (Courtesy of Dreamland)
For the first time ever, World Pride — the largest global LGBTQ celebration — is taking place in Washington, D.C., just in time for the city's 50th anniversary of Pride celebrations. This two-day music festival is pulling out all the stops with three massive stages and boundary-pushing performance art. Whether you're into house, pop, drag, circuit or techno, there's a stage for you.
🗓️ When: June 6-7
🌎 Where: Washington, D.C.
🎸 Headliners: Jennifer Lopez, Troy Sivan
🕶️Don't miss: Galantis, Grimes, Purple Disco Machine, RuPaul (DJ Set)
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🎟 Tickets: $259-$509
⚡ Full lineup: Click here 👈
Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
The crowd on the big screen during Bonnaroo 2024 in Manchester, Tenn. (Douglas Mason/WireImage)
For over 20 years, music lovers have flocked to the 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tenn., for the annual festival celebrated for its diverse lineups. This year continues that tradition, offering a mix of acts from rock and pop — and everywhere in between.
🗓️ When: June 12-15
🌎 Where: Manchester, Tenn.
🎸 Headliners: Luke Combs, Olivia Rodrigo, Hozier, Tyler, the Creator
🕶️Don't miss: Avril Lavigne, Justice, Hozier, Vampire Weekend, Alex Warren
🎟 Tickets: $460-$26,000
⚡ Full lineup: Click here 👈
Minnesota Yacht Club Festival
The Offspring at Minnesota Yacht Club Festival 2024. (Minnesota Yacht Club)
After a successful debut that drew more than 60,000 attendees in 2024, the festival returns to Harriet Island Regional Park in downtown St. Paul, Minn. This year the riverside celebration expands to three full days of music set beneath the giant cottonwoods along the Mississippi River.
🗓️ When: June 18-20
🌎 Where: St. Paul, Minn.
🎸 Headliners: Hozier, Fall Out Boy, Green Day
🕶️Don't miss: Sheryl Crow, Garbage, Gigi Perez, Alabama Shakes
🎟 Tickets: $150-$2,300
⚡ Full lineup: Click here 👈
Vans Warped Tour
A crowd surfer during Taking Back Sunday's performance at Warped Tour 2019 in Atlantic City, N.J. ()
The alternative music festival is officially back to celebrate its 30th anniversary with two-day events across three U.S. cities, blending classic Warped nostalgia with a fresh wave of rising talent.
🌎 Where: Washington, D.C. (June 14-15); Long Beach, Calif. (July 26-27); Orlando, Fla. (Nov. 15-16).
🎸 Headliners: 311, Simple Plan, Bowling for Soup, Dance Hall Crashers, Pennywise, Miss May I, Chandler Leighton
🕶️Don't miss: Angel Dust, The Wonder Years, Drain
🎟 Tickets: Sold out. Fans can join a waitlist.
⚡ Full lineup: Click here 👈
Newport Folk Festival
Brittany Howard at the 2024 Newport Folk Festival. ()
The festival has evolved significantly since Bob Dylan's 1965 electric performance challenged traditional folk norms and marked a pivotal moment in music history. Today the Newport Folk Festival is renowned for its eclectic lineups and a fanbase so loyal that tickets often sell out before artists are announced.
🗓️ When: July 25-27
🌎 Where: Newport, R.I.
🎸 Headliners: Luke Combs, Jeff Tweedy, Mt. Joy
🕶️Don't miss: Kim Deal, MJ Lenderman, Waxahatchee
🎟 Tickets: Sold out. Fans can join a waitlist.
⚡ Full lineup: Click here 👈
Lollapalooza
Benson Boone at Lollapalooza 2024 in Chicago. ()
Chicago's premier music festival is returning to Grant Park. Attracting nearly half a million music enthusiasts across its four days each summer, the event has become a cornerstone of the city's vibrant festival scene and has spawned several international versions.
🗓️ When: July 31-Aug. 3
🌎 Where: Chicago.
🎸 Headliners: Luke Combs, Olivia Rodrigo, Korn, Rüfüs du Sol, Twice, Sabrina Carpenter, A$AP Rocky, Tyler, the Creator
🕶️Don't miss: Gracie Abrams, Doechii, Martin Garrix
🎟 Tickets: $378-$25,000
⚡ Full lineup: Click here 👈
Hinterland Music Festival
Festivalgoers at the 2021 Hinterland Music Festival. ()
Now in its 10th year, the festival is set to return to the rolling hills of Saint Charles, Iowa, with headliners that include Kacey Musgraves, Lana Del Rey and Tyler, the Creator. This year also marks a major upgrade to the grounds, including a brand-new amphitheater to enhance the live music experience for fans and artists alike.
🗓️ When: Aug. 1-3
🌎 Where: Saint Charles, Iowa
🎸 Headliners: Kacey Musgraves, Lana Del Rey, Tyler, the Creator
🕶️Don't miss: Remi Wolf, Still Woozy, Bleachers, Sierra Ferrell
🎟 Tickets: $145-$1,920
⚡ Full lineup: Click here 👈
Outside Lands
Grace Jones at Outside Lands 2024. (Steve Jennings/FilmMagic)
The largest independently owned music festival in the U.S. is set to return to San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. This three-day celebration encapsulates the Bay Area's vibrant culture, offering attendees a mix of music, culinary attractions and immersive experiences.
🗓️ When: Aug. 8-10
🌎 Where: San Francisco.
🎸 Headliners: Hozier, Doja Cat, Anderson .Paak & the Free Nationals, Vampire Weekend, Glass Animals, Gracie Abrams, Jamie xx, Doechii, Gesaffelstein, Tyler, the Creator
🕶️Don't miss: Bleachers, Julien Baker & Torres, Big Freedia with S.F. Gay Men's Chorus
🎟 Tickets: $529-$5,299
⚡ Full lineup: Click here 👈
Shaky Knees
The crowd at Shaky Knees 2024 in Atlanta. ()
The 12th edition of this festival promises a lineup of more than 50 artists. For the first time, the festival is moving to Atlanta's Piedmont Park and shifting to a fall weekend, bringing fresh energy and scenic new backdrops.
🗓️ When: Sept. 19-21
🌎 Where: Atlanta.
🎸 Headliners: Deftones, My Chemical Romance, Blink-182
🕶️Don't miss: Lenny Kravitz, 'Weird Al' Yankovic, Lucy Dacus, Wet Leg
🎟 Tickets: $160-$7,715
⚡ Full lineup: Click here 👈
Sea.Hear.Now
Bruce Springsteen at the 2024 Sea.Hear.Now Festival. (Taylor Hill/WireImage)
This unique festival returns to the beach and boardwalk to deliver another wave of live music, visual art and surf culture across three stages — all with a spotlight on ocean sustainability. It's continuing its tradition of blending surf and sound, with a professional surfing competition featuring top athletes.
🗓️ When: Sept. 13-14
🌎 Where: Asbury Park, N.J.
🎸 Headliners: Hozier, Blink-182
🕶️Don't miss: ZZ Top, TV on the Radio, Remi Wolf, De La Soul
🎟 Tickets: $1,500-$10,900
⚡ Full lineup: Click here 👈
Soundside Music Festival
Teddy Swims at the 2024 SoundSide Music Festival. ()
Returning to Bridgeport's Seaside Park, this festival offers a lineup that balances indie rock royalty and rising stars. Formerly known as Sound On Sound, the festival is back this year with renewed energy and a stacked roster.
🗓️ When: Sept. 27-28
🌎 Where: Bridgeport, Conn.
🎸 Headliners: The Killers, Weezer, Hozier, Vampire Weekend
🕶️Don't miss: Djo, Japanese Breakfast, Wild Rivers, Happy Landing
🎟 Tickets: $165-$805
⚡ Full lineup: Click here 👈
Austin City Limits
Remi Wolf onstage at the 2024 Austin City Limits Music Festival.. (Erika Goldring/WireImage)
The festival returns for its 23rd year for two weekends, featuring hundreds of bands on various stages across Zilker Park. While the official lineup has yet to be announced, past headliners have included artists such as Chris Stapleton, Blink-182, Dua Lipa and Tyler, the Creator.
🗓️ When: Oct. 3-5 and Oct. 10-12
🌎 Where: Austin, Texas
🎸 Headliners: Lineup coming soon
🕶️Don't miss: Lineup coming soon
🎟 Tickets: $320 - $30,000
⚡ Full lineup: Click here 👈
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Forbes
14 hours ago
- Forbes
Directing ‘The Rose: Come Back To Me' Felt Just Right To Eugene Yi
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While The Rose: Come Back To Me may seem like a far cry from his first film, Yi sees similarities in the ways it explores cultural interface. Two members of The Rose spent time growing up outside of Korea. Woosung was born in Korea, but grew up in the U.S. Dohoon spent some of his childhood in New Zealand. Taegyeom and Hajoon grew up in Korea. The band's musical influences are global, which helped to create their distinctive sound. '"I think it's really fascinating the path that they've been on and the mix of guys in the band,' said Yi. Eugene Yi directed 'The Rose: Come Back To Me.' Eugene Yi As a rule, k-pop bands do not form organically. They are usually formed by entertainment companies with a concept in mind. Trainees sign up for a disciplined system that requires them to live and train together, often for years before they debut. While the k-pop training system has launched the careers of many talented performers, it's not ideal for everyone. 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For them, the fact that they were able to exercise that agency, is just something that's so central to them. They really chose their own destiny and decided to do things their own way. I love that part of their story.' Filming began in the summer of 2023 and lasted until mid 2024. Shot in Los Angeles and in Korea, the story culminates with the band's memorable performance at Coachella. Part of getting the film just right, said Yi, was deciding how much of the band's music to include, which he accomplished with the help of editor David E. Simpson. 'It was interesting to try and figure out how much music is too much music and how much music needs to necessarily make narrative sense, for it to make emotional sense, if that makes sense,' said Yi. 'There's that scene that David put in where he edited one of the songs, 'You're Beautiful,' in the midst of the scene about their fandom and their fan base. It was this wonderful moment where the footage and the song and the feeling that the song evokes really all came together in a way that made it feel like, okay, this is the music documentary magic doing its thing, where this serves both a narrative purpose and an emotional purpose. Even if it doesn't necessarily fit an outline or a timeline or anything like that, this just felt right.' The film includes intimate conversations with the band's members, often focusing on their personal and professional struggles. Taegyeom spoke about his mental health struggles, which Yi felt was important to include. Yi describes Taegyeom as the heart of the film. His struggles illustrate the band's message that music can be healing. 'So much of his difficulties and the candor with which he spoke about it really took me aback,' said Yi. 'It was really bracing and not something that I feel like I had heard much of in terms of when people are talking about what they've been through. 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While the film can be seen as a primer on staying true to your own creative goals, it doesn't sugarcoat how difficult that process can be, 'I think it's harder to see how bumpy that road can be,' said Yi. 'And how hard it can be at times to keep your eyes on that signal light that you're trying to follow in terms of what's important to you. I certainly had those experiences in my life where in creative collaboration or creative expression, you sort of start to lose your way.' Yi, who worked as a film editor and in print journalism before turning to directing, enjoys making documentaries and sharing the stories of real people. He describes the inspiring story of The Rose as a tale of perseverance. 'They had every single possible thing that could happen to a Korean musician happen to them that could have easily derailed their career," he said. "But their perseverance is really something that I found inspiring, not just to their music, but to each other. 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16 hours ago
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What do young Angelenos think of cellphone bans and Instagram age limits? We asked
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Read more: Column: The disturbing new after-school special that parents of teenagers need to see Today, Greenfield and three of the "Social Studies" participants — Cooper Klein, Dominic Brown and Jonathan Gelfond, all now 21 — are in a Venice bungalow, just back from showing the series to some 6,000 teenagers in San Francisco — young people who, by and large, had a much different reaction than their elders to the depictions of online bullying, body-image issues, partying, hooking up and FOMO culture. These teens were sometimes gasping and talking to the screen, laughing at points, fully immersed, fully relating, even feeling nostalgic for TikTok trends that were popping three years ago. In one episode, teenager Sydney Shear is having a text exchange with a guy Greenfield describes as "creepy." We see the message he sends: "Permission to beat." Right after she tells him no, the group of girls sitting behind Greenfield screamed, "You know he did anyway!" "It's really fascinating how differently adults versus adolescents reacted to the show," says Klein, now a junior at Vanderbilt. "Adults are terrified by it, but young people find it funny. It's like watching reality TV." Much has changed for these "Social Studies" subjects since Greenfield stopped filming in 2022. How could it not? The years immediately following high school usually bring about intense growth and change and, hopefully, a little maturity. The world around them is different. Palisades Charter High School, which many of the students in the series attended, was heavily damaged in the January wildfires. ("The show's like a time capsule," says Gelfond, a Pali High grad. "Looking back, the series is even more special now.") Some things haven't changed at all, though. Technology remains addictive, they all agree. Even when you are aware that the algorithms exist to snare your time and attention, it can be hard to stop scrolling, the self-soothing leading to numbness and deepening insecurities. "You can have a greater understanding about the effects, but it still pulls you in," says Brown, who, like Gelfond and Cooper, has worked at teen mental health hotlines. "It's hard to stay away from what is essentially our lifelines." Which is one reason why they all see the value in the Los Angeles Unified School District's cellphone ban, which went into effect in February. "The pull-away from tech only works if it applies to everyone," Klein says. "When a whole group doesn't have access, that's when the magic happens. You're going to start to connect with the people in front of you because ..." She pauses, smiling. "I mean, you want to be engaging with something, right?" Then you have time to do things like read and solve jigsaw puzzles with friends, two hobbies Klein says she has taken up again recently in a conscious effort to disengage from her phone. Reclaiming your time, she says, can only work if you've got a plan. Read more: With 'Adolescence,' Stephen Graham wants you to consider the unthinkable If the takeaway from the series was that parents couldn't fully comprehend how technology shapes and defines their teens' lives ("They're the guinea pig generation," Greenfield notes), watching "Social Studies," either together or alone, has served as a conversation starter. "I have always had a very open relationship with my parents," Gelfond says, "but the way this really explains social media has led to eightfold more transparency." "It made me more grateful for the way my parents navigated all this," Klein adds. "I thought they were overstepping boundaries, trying to protect me too much. And I think this show validated that they did a really great job. Because we were the first generation, they were kind of flying blind." Now Klein wonders what she'd do differently if she ever has kids. She started on Instagram at 12. If she could go back, she'd probably delay that entry, even though Klein says it now seems normal for kids to join the app when they turn 8 or 9. So what would be the ideal starter age? "Maybe I'm crazy for saying this, but I think it should be 16," Brown says. Greenfield nods her head, noting Australia recently banned social media — Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram and X — for children under 16. "I got on Instagram when I was 10 or 11, and I had no idea of the world that I had just gained access to," Brown continues. "You should wait until you gain critical thinking skills. Sixteen, 17, 18, maybe." "It is the end of childhood," Greenfield says. "You get that phone and everything that comes with it, and it is the end of innocence." In that respect, Greenfield sees "Social Studies" in conversation with "Adolescence," the Netflix limited series about a 13-year-old boy suspected of killing a girl. The boy had been actively exploring incel culture online. "What's scary about 'Adolescence' is how did they not know he was involved in something so terrible," Greenfield says. "But it makes sense. That's the world we live in now." Get exclusive awards season news, in-depth interviews and columnist Glenn Whipp's must-read analysis straight to your inbox. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.


Los Angeles Times
16 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
What do young Angelenos think of cellphone bans and Instagram age limits? We asked
'If you're a parent, Lauren Greenfield's new doc about teens and social media 'is a horror movie.'' That Los Angeles Times headline ran on an August story about Greenfield's acclaimed five-part docuseries that followed Los Angeles-area high school students during the 2021-22 school year, tracking their cellphone and social media use for a revealing portrait of their online life. Greenfield remembers the headline. 'I've heard that from parents,' Greenfield says. 'And I keep hearing it whenever we screen the series.' Greenfield has taken 'Social Studies' to schools around the country since its premiere last summer, airing episodes and answering questions, speaking alongside a rotating group of the show's subjects. And, yes, the most common takeaway remains: Parents have no idea what's going on with their teenagers — though 'horror' is in the eye of the beholder. Today, Greenfield and three of the 'Social Studies' participants — Cooper Klein, Dominic Brown and Jonathan Gelfond, all now 21 — are in a Venice bungalow, just back from showing the series to some 6,000 teenagers in San Francisco — young people who, by and large, had a much different reaction than their elders to the depictions of online bullying, body-image issues, partying, hooking up and FOMO culture. These teens were sometimes gasping and talking to the screen, laughing at points, fully immersed, fully relating, even feeling nostalgic for TikTok trends that were popping three years ago. In one episode, teenager Sydney Shear is having a text exchange with a guy Greenfield describes as 'creepy.' We see the message he sends: 'Permission to beat.' Right after she tells him no, the group of girls sitting behind Greenfield screamed, 'You know he did anyway!' 'It's really fascinating how differently adults versus adolescents reacted to the show,' says Klein, now a junior at Vanderbilt. 'Adults are terrified by it, but young people find it funny. It's like watching reality TV.' Much has changed for these 'Social Studies' subjects since Greenfield stopped filming in 2022. How could it not? The years immediately following high school usually bring about intense growth and change and, hopefully, a little maturity. The world around them is different. Palisades Charter High School, which many of the students in the series attended, was heavily damaged in the January wildfires. ('The show's like a time capsule,' says Gelfond, a Pali High grad. 'Looking back, the series is even more special now.') Some things haven't changed at all, though. Technology remains addictive, they all agree. Even when you are aware that the algorithms exist to snare your time and attention, it can be hard to stop scrolling, the self-soothing leading to numbness and deepening insecurities. 'You can have a greater understanding about the effects, but it still pulls you in,' says Brown, who, like Gelfond and Cooper, has worked at teen mental health hotlines. 'It's hard to stay away from what is essentially our lifelines.' Which is one reason why they all see the value in the Los Angeles Unified School District's cellphone ban, which went into effect in February. 'The pull-away from tech only works if it applies to everyone,' Klein says. 'When a whole group doesn't have access, that's when the magic happens. You're going to start to connect with the people in front of you because ...' She pauses, smiling. 'I mean, you want to be engaging with something, right?' Then you have time to do things like read and solve jigsaw puzzles with friends, two hobbies Klein says she has taken up again recently in a conscious effort to disengage from her phone. Reclaiming your time, she says, can only work if you've got a plan. If the takeaway from the series was that parents couldn't fully comprehend how technology shapes and defines their teens' lives ('They're the guinea pig generation,' Greenfield notes), watching 'Social Studies,' either together or alone, has served as a conversation starter. 'I have always had a very open relationship with my parents,' Gelfond says, 'but the way this really explains social media has led to eightfold more transparency.' 'It made me more grateful for the way my parents navigated all this,' Klein adds. 'I thought they were overstepping boundaries, trying to protect me too much. And I think this show validated that they did a really great job. Because we were the first generation, they were kind of flying blind.' Now Klein wonders what she'd do differently if she ever has kids. She started on Instagram at 12. If she could go back, she'd probably delay that entry, even though Klein says it now seems normal for kids to join the app when they turn 8 or 9. So what would be the ideal starter age? 'Maybe I'm crazy for saying this, but I think it should be 16,' Brown says. Greenfield nods her head, noting Australia recently banned social media — Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram and X — for children under 16. 'I got on Instagram when I was 10 or 11, and I had no idea of the world that I had just gained access to,' Brown continues. 'You should wait until you gain critical thinking skills. Sixteen, 17, 18, maybe.' 'It is the end of childhood,' Greenfield says. 'You get that phone and everything that comes with it, and it is the end of innocence.' In that respect, Greenfield sees 'Social Studies' in conversation with 'Adolescence,' the Netflix limited series about a 13-year-old boy suspected of killing a girl. The boy had been actively exploring incel culture online. 'What's scary about 'Adolescence' is how did they not know he was involved in something so terrible,' Greenfield says. 'But it makes sense. That's the world we live in now.'