The Summer I Turned Pretty” warns fans ahead of Season 3—engage respectfully or face a ban. Discover how the show is fighting online hate and bullying.

A Teen Romance Gets Serious – Online

The Summer I Turned Pretty is no longer just a dreamy teen show — it is the focus of a real-life conversation about online behavior and online responsibility. As fans gear up for Season 3 of the Amazon Prime hit, the showrunners sent an important message to fans: there is zero tolerance for hate, bullying, and harassment.

Online fandoms can empower fans to become stronger advocates and share their opinions, but they can also be toxic environments that breed hatred. This move by the show’s team shows a significant change in how studios and platforms are treating their viewers and fandoms.

 What Happened? A “Zero Tolerance” Policy Ahead of Season 3

Right now, the excitement surrounding Season 3 is out of control. It’s been announced that Season 3 will be the final season for The Summer I Turned Pretty, so the hype is at an all-time high. But along with this hype comes a nasty side of creative internet fandoms, which can be even more challenging than your typical online trolls/naysayers.

Why This Warning is Important: It’s More Than a PR Move

Fandom and fandom culture have changed drastically, oftentimes not for the better. The rise of online fandoms — particularly on social media — has offered passionate fans and built communities, but it has also created toxic environments. According to the Pew Research Center, 41% of U.S. adults have experienced online harassment, a significant portion of this paced of harassment is from pop culture conversations.

In the case of The Summer I Turned Pretty, fans have previously taken team “Jeremiah vs. Conrad” and even turned it into personal attacks against the actors. And that is not ok.

 Protecting Your Talent

Let’s remember, these are real people, often young people, who are trying to handle new levels of fame. Lola Tung (Belly), Christopher Briney (Conrad), and Gavin Casalegno (Jeremiah) have all touched on the magnitude of pressure they felt with this newfound visibility.

By setting a limit like this now, the show producers are protecting not only the brand but also the talent’s mental state.

Real-life example: Other productions do this, too.

The Summer I Turned Pretty is not the only production that is taking a stance. Other well-known productions have taken a stand as well:

Organizers of Stranger Things released statements after Millie Bobby Brown was the target of continual online trolling.

Tips for producing The Last of Us were made aware of fans targeting actress Bella Ramsey in her role of playing Elli, and the show responded by commenting on the act as well.

Star Wars was forced to respond to racist online attacks of Moses Ingram (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Ewan McGregor stated, “If you’re sending her bullying messages, you’re no Star Wars fan in my mind.

The People who Want to Change the Game: How Studios are Changing the Landscape

We are transitioning into a new phase of digital fandom: with streaming shows reaching global audiences at record speeds, the obligation for building and maintaining safe communities no longer belongs only to the viewers anymore; this obligation is also now the studio’s.

The Summer I Turned Pretty production team is an outlier of a larger wave of media brands:

Hiring dedicated community managers to manage conversations.

Establishing code-of-conduct agreements for fan forums.

Creating partnerships with mental health experts to assist talent.

What to Anticipate in Season 3

There is no confirmed date for Season 3’s release, but it is confirmed that it will close what has been a developmental arc for Belly, and an outline of the love triangle that took TikTok by storm.

Showrunner Jenny Han confesses that this final season is “the most emotional” and that it “will allow fans to have closure, as well as leave them with a few surprises.” Expect character development, complicated family dynamics, and perhaps, just perhaps, a resolution to the ages-old hot topic of Team Conrad versus Team Jeremiah.

A Fandom at a Crossroads – Choose Kindness

While The Summer I Turned Pretty is a fictional romance story, how we treat each other in the real world is not fiction.  With the show’s present bold stances on online hate it is clear you can love a show and still be kind and supportive to the people behind that show.

FAQs

1. Why did the show issue the fan ban warning?

To fight the increase in online harassment and to offer all cast, crew, and fans a safer space prior to Season 3.

2. Can I get banned simply for disagreeing with the show?

No – respectful opinions and critiques of the show are okay. Personal attacks on people or hate speech can result in bans.

3. Where was the warning posted?

The warning was posted on the show’s official Instagram, Twitter/X, and TikTok accounts.

4. What if someone else is harassing me in the fandom?

You can report directly to the platform, and you can also apply block/mute functions. The show’s moderators might also offer support. 

5. Has this happened with other TV fandoms? 

Yes – other shows like Stranger Things, Star Wars, and The Last of Us have made public comments about toxic fandoms. 

6. Will Season 3 be the last?

Yes, this season of The Summer I Turned Pretty is confirmed to be the final season.