Facebook Hopes Norwegian Teen Drama’s Social-First Format Will Work In United States

As Facebook looks to populate the Watch tab it launched in August, it is throwing a number of original video projects at the wall in order to figure out which ones will stick. One of its most ambitious bets will be an American remake of Skam, a teen drama that comes from Norway and boasts a forward-thinking, social media-friendly format.

The original version of Skam, which first premiered in 2015, discussed topics like sexuality, mental health, and race against the backdrop of a prestigious high school. That on its own is not a novel concept, but Skam upped the ante by debuting its segments in real time on social media. Clips set at parties, for example, would arrive on Friday nights. At the end of the week, those snippets would form a full episode that would air on TV. The result is a scripted Summer Break of sorts.

Thanks in large part to its smart distribution strategy, Skam became a hit on platforms like Tumblr, where fans highlighted their favorite moments. Facebook hopes its version of the program, produced by XIX Entertainment, will resonate with American teens the same way the original struck a chord across the pond.

When I first heard about Skam, it felt like I was seeing the future of storytelling,” said Facebook head of creative strategy Ricky Van Veen. “We’re incredibly enthusiastic about bringing it to global audiences on Facebook Watch.”

Skam will join a plethora of other shows that are coming to Facebook Watch. The social giant’s recent pickups include a cooking show hosted by YouTube star Lauren Riihimaki.