*Audrie & Daisy* is a harrowing and essential documentary that examines the devastating consequences of cyberbullying and
sexual assault in the age of social media. The narrative centers on two teenage girls, Audrie Pott and Daisy Coleman, who lived in different parts of the United States but suffered eerily similar fates after being sexually assaulted while incapacitated. The film meticulously reconstructs the events surrounding these tragedies, illustrating how a single night of
vulnerability can be weaponized by peers to destroy a young person’s life.In the case of Audrie Pott, a fifteen-year-old from California, the trauma began at a house party where she was assaulted by boys she considered friends. Photos of the incident were circulated online, leading to a relentless campaign of digital harassment that ultimately drove her to take her own life. The documentary captures the raw, agonizing grief of her parents as they navigate the legal aftermath and struggle to find justice in a system that often blames the victim. Simultaneously, the film follows Daisy Coleman, a teenager from Missouri who faced a similar assault. Unlike Audrie, Daisy survived her ordeal, but she found herself ostracized by her community and targeted by a vitriolic internet mob after she came forward. The film documents her family’s brave, uphill battle against local authorities who initially refused to pursue the perpetrators, highlighting the systemic failures that often protect abusers while silencing survivors.As the stories unfold, the documentary explores the motivations behind the cruelty of the digital age, where anonymity emboldens perpetrators and social platforms provide a theater for public shaming. The narrative shifts from a chronicle of tragedy to a powerful testament of resilience. It highlights the courage required for Daisy to speak her truth despite the threats against her life and shows how Audrie’s parents transformed their heartbreak into a national crusade for legislative reform. By weaving these two narratives together, *Audrie & Daisy* forces viewers to confront the toxic culture of victim-blaming and the urgent need for empathy. Ultimately, the film serves as a searing indictment of how easily the internet can be used to dehumanize, while simultaneously honoring the strength of those who fight to reclaim their dignity in the face of insurmountable darkness.