True crime podcasts have us double-checking the door locks at night, sharing our locations with friends before every date and developing a form of true crime anxiety. 

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Secure Data Recovery surveyed Americans about their true crime consumption habits and the safety precautions they now take.  

Key takeaways

  • Phoenix ranks #7 for the cities with the least true crime anxiety.
  • Only 38% of residents report watching true crime content as anxiety inducing.
  • Only 38% of residents added home security systems due to consuming true crime content.
  • 49% of residents have shared their location with friends and family as a safety precaution.
  • 72% of residents have admitted to becoming more aware of their surroundings.

Both horror and true crime content have a way of leaving fans on edge. With horror, it’s the fear of a monster waiting for you down that dark alley, but true crime is a bit different. The true nature of these stories resonates because the victims are often relatable, which can make it more difficult for fans to shake those fears and forget the gruesome details they heard.

With this in mind, our team set out to determine which parts of the country are the most impacted by stress related to true crime media. We surveyed Americans in every state and cities across the U.S. asking a variety of questions from how often they consume the content to how the true genre has impacted them and the safety precautions they now take. Read on to learn how your state ranked.

National look

  • Residents in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas experience the most true crime anxiety.
  • Residents in New Orleans, LA, Baltimore, MD, and Las Vegas, NV, experience the most true crime stress.
  • Nearly 1 in 2 Americans say true crime content has increased their anxiety.
  • After consuming true crime content, 61% of Americans say they are more suspicious of other people.
  • True crime content consumption has caused 78% of Americans to become more aware of their surroundings.
  • After consuming content about true crime, 1 in 3 Americans have added to their home security.