‘Monster’ Killer Ed Gein Makes Girls Go Crazy – And That

But instead of accusing TikTok of spreading posts that romanticize bad guys, British researchers believe that there is nothing inherently “wrong” with women (especially the digitally native Generation Z) being obsessed with Gain and his ilk.

“Fetish videos on TikTok focus primarily on the physical attractiveness of real and fictional criminals, particularly through the sexualization of attractive actors,” the study authors explained in the report. “They also romanticize antisocial personality traits and behaviors, appealing to women’s empathy and desire for loyalty, protection, and ‘correcting’ deviant men.”

Experts have used real serial killers, such as Ted Bundy, as well as fictional killers, such as actor Penn Badgley, who plays “Joe Goldberg” in Netflix’s “You,” as prime examples of irresistible assassins.

Investigators analyzed 66 videos and 91 comments on TikTok, all shared by women born between 1997 and 2012. The audit identified seven themes, which the team categorized as “Halo Effect,” “Actor-Offender Empathy,” “Empathy, Romance, and APD,” ​​”Protection and Loyalty,” “I Can Fix Him,” “Gen Z Irony,” and “Victim Fantasy.”

According to the findings, the halo effect – where physical attractiveness appears to influence users’ perceptions of criminals – is a major factor in fetish cases.

The research team revealed: “Attractive criminals were more likely to be described as ‘innocent’ or ‘misunderstood’, and comments often suggested leniency or suspicion of guilt based on appearance alone.”

They found that young women often stood up for handsome con men like Bundy but less often for less handsome murderers like John Wayne Gacy.

Actors who play criminals in true crime movies and TV series also have an influence on Zoomer girls.

Industry insiders say that “women’s attraction to these actors often transfers to real criminals” and calls this phenomenon the “actor-criminal transference effect.”

“Data shows that several actors who play high-profile criminals, including Zac Efron (Ted Bundy) and Zac Vera (Richard Ramirez), have been linked to the real-life criminals they portray.”

But Zoomers’ thirst for lawbreakers doesn’t stop there.

“The halo effect is particularly evident in content depicting criminals on trial,” authorities said, noting killer Cameron Herring’s “too cute” expression in court.

Luigi Mangione, who will be CEO of United Healthcare in December 2024, also wowed ladies with his sharp physique and style during the legal proceedings.

“The majority of defendants defended by young women on TikTok were physically attractive, well-dressed men, and often had a ‘baby face,’ which made them appear more trustworthy,” the study authors wrote.

The experts also conducted a cross-sectional survey of 95 women aged 18 to 27 to determine their exposure to and participation in online pornography.

Participants responded to prompts such as “True love can heal a criminal’s traumatized inner child,” “I tend to associate real criminals with the actors who play them,” and “I sometimes fantasize about participating in criminal activities with criminals,” indicating how much they agreed or disagreed with each statement.

“Gen Z women’s fetish tendencies increase with their engagement with fetish content,” the reviewers determined.

They hope their research will inspire change in social media platforms.

“These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to mitigate the impact of digital content on young women’s perceptions of offenders, addressing the impact of power dynamics associated with Machiavellianism and psychopathy,” they wrote.