In 1971, psychologist Philip Zimbardo conducted the Stanford prison experiment, a study designed to investigate how assigned social roles influence behavior. The experiment involved male university students randomly designated as either guards or prisoners within a simulated prison environment. Originally planned to last two weeks, the study was terminated after only six days due to severe emotional and psychological distress experienced by participants.

Building on this controversial history, Netflix has launched a new reality series titled "The New Stanford Prison Experiment," which revisits the concept in a contemporary setting. Unlike the original study, this version incorporates both male and female participants and is conducted inside a real prison facility. The project is supervised by behavioral psychologist Alison Wood Brooks, journalist Trymaine Lee, and Michael Cantrell, a retired corrections professional. The series began streaming on Netflix on Wednesday.

Separately, a true crime documentary series called "Swipe Right on the Devil" debuted on Hulu on Thursday. The show chronicles the 2017 disappearance and murder of Sydney Loofe, a 24-year-old woman from Nebraska who vanished after a Tinder date. Her remains were discovered approximately one month later. The series details the ensuing investigation and murder trial, which revealed connections involving witch covens and occult practices.