It all begins with a single text from an unknown number that spirals into a chilling web of lies and manipulation. Netflix’s new true-crime documentary, Unknown Number: The High School Catfish, is a shocking story of mystery, cyberbullying, and true betrayal that has people more than just intrigued—deeply unsettled.

Unknown Number: The High School Catfish uncovers the real-life case of high schooler Lauryn Licari, a young girl who was relentlessly digitally stalked for over a year by an anonymous number. What started as a few cruel and threatening messages soon turned into clear psychological torture that changed Lauryn’s life for the worse.

Upon the release of this documentary, social media reviews, reactions from parents, teenagers, and all viewers alike, prove that the film has left audiences speechless. Pembroke Pines Charter High School sophomore Emma Estevez states, “Usually documentaries really bore me. I can never sit through all of it. This one, though, had me sitting on my couch, literally glued to the screen.”

The most surprising twist in this case was that the person behind the messages wasn’t some cruel stranger or jealous peer determined to ruin Lauryn’s life, but it was someone Lauryn knew better than anyone: her own mother, Kendra Licari. With her career experience in IT, Kendra used random phone number generators and anonymous messaging apps to send thousands of brutal texts. She manipulated Lauryn’s relationships, even with her boyfriend, Owen McKenny, ultimately ruining her adolescent life.

After over a year of torment, Lauren and those around her were exhausted. This documentary serves not only as entertainment but also as a warning. The digital age has made it so easy for just one anonymous number to leave someone’s life in chaos.

It took work from the FBI to finally trace all the messages back to Kendra. Amidst all the cyberbullying, Kendra was always the one that Lauryn would go to for comfort. Her world was shattered—someone whose job is to protect and nurture her had single-handedly thrown her into a world of self-doubt and abuse.

“I don’t think I knew how to stop,” Kendra states. “I was somebody different in those moments. I was in an awful place mentally. It was like I had a mask on or something. I don’t even know who I was.”

If this is true for Kendra, this might be true for the hundreds and thousands of cyberbullies who lose themselves behind the screen. Perhaps it brings a sense of invincibility. Anonymity is often used as a disguise, for no one can trace it back to them, or so they think.

At some point, the line blurs between the online and physical worlds. Social media is seen as a symbol of connection and collaboration among strangers, but when does it become an all-access portal for emotional and psychological harm?

Lauryn’s situation isn’t the only form of cyberbullying seen today. It is a wide range of hate and cruelty, whether it be through text messages, social media applications, group chats, edited photos, anonymous apps, or even gaming platforms. 

Some people question why she didn’t just block the number or close out the apps; however, cyberbullying is more inescapable than it seems. For nights on end, she would sit in her room, doors locked, curtains drawn, away from the dangers of the real world, yet the messages still found her everywhere she looked. For a while, she felt like true safety was nowhere to be found.

Sophomore Emily Bello Contreras comments, “This documentary was definitely a very entertaining watch, but I do think that it is important to focus on the bigger picture of solving the issue of cyberbullying. If her own mom can do that to her, imagine how little mercy some of these strangers have.”

While Unknown Number is a unique case for Lauryn, it also serves as a broader warning for society about the dangers of online harassment and the importance of digital safety. In a world where anyone can hide behind a screen, it’s easy to forget that digital harassment isn’t just about public shaming or mean comments; it can be manipulative, personal, and potentially life-altering.

At the end of the film, Lauryn’s attempt at rebuilding her life is shown. Legally, the fight is over, but the toll it took on her mental health and its effects are still unending. The immense buzzing and fear have finally stopped, but the words still linger forevermore.