Netflix Doesn’t Want You to Know This

Hey Reader!

I watched something fascinating last week that changed how I think about storytelling. My teammate Iswaryaa couldn't stop talking about Netflix's "Adolescence" in our team meeting - a show that grabbed 24.3 million viewers in just four days.

Instead of just enjoying it, we broke down exactly why it worked so well. What we discovered was a simple framework any creator can use to make content people can't stop consuming.

The "Tension Triangle" Framework

The show uses three key elements that keep viewers glued to their screens:

1. Immediate Disruption - They throw you straight into a crisis (a 13-year-old arrested for murder)

2. Competing Perspectives - Every character shows a different angle of the same story

3. Gradual Context Revelation - Background information comes in perfectly timed doses

4. Transformative Resolution - The conclusion changes how you see everything that came before

Think about how most creators start content: "Today I'm going to talk about..." This immediately gives viewers permission to tune out. Instead, disrupt expectations instantly.

Why This Works On A Psychological Level

This framework triggers two powerful responses that most content misses:

1. Curiosity gap - Your brain naturally craves closure between what you know and what you want to know. When you present incomplete information, viewers physically can't look away.

2. Emotional investment - Multiple perspectives force viewers to form opinions and pick sides. Once someone has mentally chosen a position, they become invested in seeing if they're right.

The neurological response is similar to what happens when we watch sports - we become participants, not just viewers.

Creating Emotional Contrast That Makes People Feel

"Adolescence" constantly places opposite emotions side by side - childhood innocence against violence, digital connection against real isolation.

To implement this in your content:

1. Identify the expected emotion for your topic (inspiration for success stories, relief for how-to content)

2. Deliberately introduce the opposite emotion (fear in success stories, tension in how-to content)

3. Move between these emotions throughout your content

The Exact Structure For Different Content Types

Here's the precise framework broken down by content format:

For Video Content:

1. First 10-15 seconds: Present a disruption that challenges expectations

   • Example: "I deleted my highest-performing video last week. Here's why..."

2. Next 30 seconds: Introduce two conflicting viewpoints

   • Example: "Growing on social media requires consistency. But this 'consistency' almost destroyed my channel."

3. Middle portion (50-60% of video): Gradually reveal context that deepens understanding

   • Example: Share data, personal experiences, and expert perspectives that add layers to the story

4. Final section: Deliver a conclusion that transforms perspective

   • Example: "This changes how we should think about growth because..."

For Written Content:

1. First paragraph: Open with tension-creating disruption

   • Example: "Last month, I lost my biggest client after implementing the exact strategy most experts recommend."

2. Next two paragraphs: Present opposing viewpoints

   • Example: "Traditional advice says X. But my experience suggests the opposite is true."

3. Middle sections: Layer in context that shifts understanding

   • Example: Add research, case studies, or personal results that provide deeper insights

4. Conclusion: Deliver perspective-changing insight

   • Example: "This means success isn't about [common belief], but rather about [new insight]."

Your Turn: Implementing The Tension Triangle

Follow these specific steps to apply this framework to your next piece of content:

1. Identify your disruption opening:

   • What belief do most people hold about your topic?

   • How can you challenge or contradict this belief in your opening?

   • Write your opening line using this formula: "[Unexpected situation] happened when I [action that challenges common belief]."

2. Map your competing perspectives:

   • Perspective A: The conventional wisdom or approach

   • Perspective B: The contrasting viewpoint (your insight)

   • Write one paragraph for each, starting with "From one perspective..." and "Yet from another angle..."

3. Plan your context revelations:

   • List 3-5 key insights that deepen understanding

   • Arrange them in order of increasing surprise or impact

   • For each, write: "What most people don't realize is [contextual insight]."

4. Craft your transformative conclusion:

   • Identify how this new understanding changes your topic

   • Write your conclusion using: "This changes everything about [topic] because [transformation]."

Here's a completed template example for a post about content creation:

• Opening: "I lost 40% of my followers overnight after implementing the exact strategy a famous YouTuber recommended."

• Perspective A: "From one perspective, consistent daily posting is essential for growth. The algorithm rewards creators who show up regularly."

• Perspective B: "Yet when I tracked my actual results, I discovered my highest-performing content came after breaks of 3-4 days between posts."

• Context Revelation: "When I analyzed 50 creator accounts, I found that engagement rates actually dropped by an average of 17% after day 5 of consecutive daily posting."

• Transformation: "This changes everything about content strategy because it's not about how often you post, but about how much energy you bring to each piece of content."

Try this framework on your next post and share your results by replying to this email. I'd love to see how it works for you.

Keep telling stories,

Epaphra

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