The controversy began with a TikTok post from fluent Korean speaker Youngmi Mayer, who pointed out “botched” subtitles changed the Squid Game’s meaning for English-speaking viewers — erasing cultural nuance, missing metaphors and Korean idioms.
Why is squid games not appropriate?
“Squid Game has repetitive extreme violence throughout, and other shows might just have one or two scenes,” says Dr. Cowan. “Repetitive violence has been shown to lead to increased violence and aggression in children. Additionally, this content can be traumatic for some to watch, leading to increased anxiety.
Leo Falsafi is a digital marketing veteran and senior journalist at Virlan.co, where he covers the intersection of digital marketing, gaming, and breaking US trending news. With nearly two decades of hands-on experience in SEO and digital strategy, Leo has consulted for and scaled hundreds of companies. His deep industry roots allow him to deliver sharp, fact-checked insights and analysis on the trends shaping today's digital landscape.