In the gripping HULU docuseries Friends Like These: The Murder of Skylar Neese, viewers are immersed in the digital world of three West Virginia teenagers whose lives were irrevocably changed by a calculated betrayal. During an interview with Monica Duarte of Temple of Geek, Eric Finch shared a unique perspective on how social media and community rumors shaped the atmosphere surrounding Skylar’s 2012 disappearance.

Rumors vs. Reality

While the docuseries heavily utilizes social media to capture the emotional intensity of adolescence, Finch noted that the early speculation following Skylar’s disappearance wasn’t always digital. Having attended a different high school than Skylar, the one where Sheila (one of Skylar’s friends) started, Finch recalled that many early rumors were actually verbal.

Much of the early speculation was started by an older generation and spread through word of mouth rather than online posts. It wasn’t until a suspect was in custody that the conversation truly “snowballed” on social media. Finch cautioned that these rumors rarely contained the truth and often served as false leads that could have delayed the investigation further.

A Double-Edged Digital Sword

Despite the noise of rumors, Finch highlighted that social media served as a significant strength for the community in other ways. It allowed the town to receive news much faster than they would have just five years prior.

More importantly, the public nature of social media provided a permanent record of what individuals were saying at the time. For investigators and the community, these posts became a way to look back at the “words publicly” available to see how the narrative evolved from the inside.

“I think social media, for the most part, was kind of a strength in having words publicly and seeing what they were saying publicly.”

Friends Like These: The Murder of Skylar Neese is produced by Dorothy St. Pictures for Hulu. The series is directed by Clair Titley (The Contestant), marking her second collaboration with the streamer. The series is produced by BAFTA winner Josie Besbrode. Executive producers include Melanie Archer, Rebecca Burrell, and Julia Nottingham, with Lily Kaplan serving as co-executive producer.

All episodes will debut March 6 on Hulu and via the Hulu on Disney+ bundle in the U.S., with an international premiere on Disney+.