Why are so many people fans of true crime podcasts? Is it because we tune in to listen to something we find eerily interesting, or scary, or are we just trying to grasp something incomprehensible and inhumanely gruesome? What is it that people are drawn to here?
If you have found yourself casually playing true crime podcasts while having lunch at work or playing them as something to fill the background void with, this article is for you. We will look into what made true crime podcasts attain such a massive audience throughout the world.
Look, we all probably remember seeing true crime documentaries on TV when we were younger, only to find ourselves searching for the best true crime podcast to tune into now.
Half of all Americans Enjoy True Crime
If you thought you were alone in enjoying true crime stories, you would be seriously mistaken. Surveys and polls done in recent years portray an entirely different picture, stating that a majority of all Americans do enjoy the true crime genre and do so regularly.
Approximately 13% of all Americans state that true crime is their most preferred genre, with an equal number of those stating that it is their least preferred genre. 24% percent stated that they indulge in this particular eerie content several times per week.
Half of Americans stated that they enjoy and consume true crime content, while only 30% stated that they completely stray away from consuming this type of genre and its content. One-third of all Americans, however, tune in on true crime things at least once a week.
True Crime Audience: Podcasts Vs Television
Surveys also state that the majority of true crime content is still consumed through television. Coming in at 52%, Americans mostly rely on TV and true crime shows as the primary source for this content. The next biggest source, sitting at 39%, lies in true crime films.
You might be surprised about the 3rd most common way of consumption of such content. Research showed that more people consume true crime through books, approximately 23%, rather than online videos, which sit at 20%.
Approximately 17% of Americans follow true crime through podcasts as their primary source, and 15% do it through forums and articles, meaning that there is usually a medium between the content itself and the vast audience turning in.
The fact that merely 15% of all Americans do their independent research on true crime cases via articles and forums demonstrates that the majority of people will still rather rely on good storytelling and audiovisual content – besides those relying on books, of course.
Women More Likely to Watch True Crime
This is often talked about, but is it true? The short answer would be yes, it is true. Women are more likely to follow true crime. But, what are the statistics and why is that so?
Recent surveys and polls also provided insight into who indulges in true crime more. The results state that women are more likely to tune in, coming in at 58% as opposed to men who are coming in at 42%. But, that’s just one part of the statistics we have at hand.
Another particularly interesting piece of information is that women are twice as likely to express the preference that this is their favorite genre of content.
The thing is that women also consume a particular type of true crime content, including that that deals with domestic abuse, assault, and similar things, implying this fascination might have a psychological background for educational and safety purposes.
The Psychology of True Crime Content
There is a mountain of reasons why we can’t seem to get enough of such content.
These reasons include getting a better understanding of the justice system and the psychology of crimes. In turn, viewers consider they get a better sense of the everyday dangers surrounding them, making them more conscious, careful, and sharp.
Whether consuming true crime content is good or not is still a huge ongoing debate. There is nothing inherently bad about it. Many people tune in to true crime due to their fascination with the psychology of crime, legal injustices, and the working of the criminal justice system.
A part of the true-crime audience also tunes in to bring attention to the importance of learning self-defense, to educate themselves on particular red flags in someone’s behavior, and often to try and help bring awareness to a variety of crimes that still go unsolved.