Lauren Greenfield's "Social Studies" Opens at Fotografiska Berlin, Exploring Online Youth

Fotografiska Berlin presents "Social Studies," an immersive exhibition by American artist Lauren Greenfield, opening September 26. The show draws from over 2,000 hours of unfiltered data—chats, photos, and posts—collected from 30 Los Angeles teenagers who surrendered their smartphones. Greenfield, trained in visual anthropology, also conducted about 150 days of filming and created a five-part documentary, later transformed into immersive rooms, photo walls, and installations. The exhibition examines themes like selfies, beauty trends, sexuality, bullying, envy, and discrimination, presenting social media as both a lifeline and a loaded weapon. One participant notes, "On Twitter, there are many old men looking for pics of feet," while another states, "I'm a fat person of color. That makes me an easy target for cyberbullies." The project includes workshops with the Education Innovation Lab and Adenauer Campus, producing educational material for healthy social media use. A free digital learning journey, "Digital Sparks," launches at the opening, and a conference for teachers with the Berlin Senate will follow. FAQ YOU supports as Health Impact Partner. Greenfield's prior work, such as "Fast Forward" (1997) and "Girl Culture" (2002), also explored youth culture. An opening party on September 25 features Greenfield and DJ lineup by Berlin collective Close Friends; tickets are free.