Hype House
Parents say
Based on 2 reviews
Kids say
Based on 14 reviews
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Hype House
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Hype House is a reality show depicting the behind-the-scenes lives of TikTok stars who live together in an over-the-top luxury home paid for by the online content they create. Being on screens all day and posting near constant social media content is glorified, but the stress of living life mainly to achieve likes on social media is also depicted. Accepting people of all backgrounds, races, and sexual identities is a core value of the house, which is made up of many people who felt they didn't fit in growing up. Cast members speak about issues including cancel culture, being bullied, abuse, homelessness, mental illness, and suicidal ideation. Consumerism is rampant, and emphasis is placed on needing to look good on camera. Relationships are discussed and shown with hand-holding, light kissing, and talk of getting engaged. Cast members sometimes argue and play pranks on each other. Roughhousing sometimes turns to hitting, but violence is minimal. Upper butt cheeks are shown. Another cast member primarily posts videos with his shirt off that are meant to be sexy. Profanity is common; "f--k" and "s--t" are bleeped out.
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What's the Story?
HYPE HOUSE is a reality show based on a collaborative project by the same name. It was founded to help rising TikTok stars capitalize on each other's followers, and build clout, by living together in a multimillion-dollar house and posting about their lives. The house gained notoriety in 2020 when its members were called out for not following proper COVID-19 guidelines. Many of the house's most successful members have moved on, and those who remain are struggling to find their place and to maintain their popularity and thus livelihood. Tensions arise between older members who want to branch out on their own and newer members who want the popularity that comes with collaborating. Many of the housemates are plagued by the stress of constantly needing to create viral content and frequently fear the threat of "cancel culture."
Is It Any Good?
The behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to become -- and remain -- a TikTok star will be enlightening to some, but it fails to delve deep enough into the constant mental and physical demands put on its stars. For every discussion of the stress, exhaustion, and even loneliness of the influencers featured in Hype House, there's a flashy scene highlighting their luxury toys and multimillion-dollar homes. Cast members' struggles with divvying up household chores and deciding who to invite to their house parties are spliced with such serious issues as depression, suicidal ideation, and the house being accused of whitewashing their only Black member. The result is a muddied tale without much depth, giving the viewer the general impression that none of the cast members are very happy, despite their fame and riches. Yet, no one is really willing to take a deeper look into their own lives or to walk away. Parents may find the series a useful starting point for discussing the pitfalls of online stardom with teens, but the show won't fully teach that lesson on its own.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how real life differs from what is posted on social media. How real is social media? Are these people as happy as they seem on their social media channels? Do they ever post about the negative things going on in their lives?
How does living their lives to get more likes affect the cast members? What could they do to get more balance in their lives?
Teens may not be thinking about social lessons from stories. Comment positively on the behaviors that you like and consider asking what they think is the takeaway.
TV Details
- Premiere date: January 7, 2022
- Cast: Chase Hudson, Nikita Dragun, Alex Warren
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: February 28, 2022
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