New documentary for BBC Two

David Baddiel is to explore the world of social media trolls in a new BBC Two documentary.

The hour-long film is inspired by his online encounters, which he also explores in his current stand-up show Trolls: Not The Dolls, and explores how it is affecting our behaviour in the real world.

Baddiel has previously mentioned the project in interviews but it has now been confirmed by the BBC, along with the title – David Baddiel: Social Media, Anger And Us.

The comedian believes there are positive sides to these platforms - revolutionising communication, highlighting important issues and propelling social change. But he also acknowledges a darker side to the way we interact online - one where outrage and angry exchanges frequently dominate.

He said: ‘David Bowie, in 1999, said, of the internet, "this will change everything". As ever, Bowie was a prophet. Because what seems like just a means of communication has completely changed how we communicate.

‘Social media in particular, seems to have raised the temperature of every type of utterance. I’m hoping this film will add to the understanding of all this and not the anger. But I’m still expecting to be shouted at online about it, of course."

The BBC says: ‘Throughout the programme David puts his own social media behaviour under the microscope, analysing the angry and hateful tweets he receives, interrogating his brain’s responses to these messages in an MRI scan and going cold turkey for a fortnight to see if a life free of social media leads him to enlightenment.

‘He meets prolific users, writers and experts, who both love and hate the medium, and are trying to understand what the platforms do to us. He explores whether the new instant justice meted out by social media - what some call cancel culture - is a new type of mass democracy or just mob rule; and uncovers a shady world of fake accounts and bots spreading uncertainty and misinformation.

‘We see David meet individuals whose lives have been broken by online trolls, including one Tik-Tokker whose house was arsoned.’

BBC commissioning editor  Emma Loach said: ‘David’s thoughtful and intelligent film is timely and urgent. It explores the positive, negative and complex sides to our online and offline selves and assesses the impact social media is having on all of our lives.’

Last year, the comedian made the acclaimed show Confronting Holocaust Denial with David Baddiel for the BBC.

He is also planning a follow-up to his bestselling book on antesemitism, Jews Don’t Count, which will be based on his atheism, as well as a memoir based on the stand-up show he performed about his parents.

Made by: Wall to Wall
Executive producer: Emily Shields.
Commissioned by: Patrick Holland, director of factual and arts and Claire Sillery, head of commissioning, documentaries, history and religion
Commissioning editor:  Emma Loach

Published: 15 Nov 2021