It all started with one anonymous text message.
The Unknown Number is Netflix’s latest documentary, and it has gone viral on social media for its unexpected plot twist and shocking ending.
The documentary begins with teenager Lauryn Licari and her boyfriend, Owen McKenny, receiving a series of anonymous text messages. For most of the film, the mysterious sender remains unknown, their messages growing crueler and more disturbing. When the FBI becomes involved, the texter is revealed in a shocking twist—Licari’s own mother.
“At first, I decided to watch it because a video on TikTok caught my eye, but after watching it, I understood what all the fuss was about,” Brylee Druin said.
By September 2025, clips of the documentary went viral on TikTok. Many people watched the documentary expecting it to be an informational movie on cyberbullying. What they didn’t expect was for it to be a documentary full of dramatic events.
“As a mother, I couldn’t understand how someone could possibly even think about doing that to their child,” Sarah Tomlinson said. Tomlinson is one of the many parents left in disbelief about the case.
The film has sparked conversations online, where most parents express their feelings towards the case. The case has left parents grappling with the unthinkable—how a mother could turn against her own child.
“It made me more appreciative of my own life and the fact that I have people who support me and love me and wouldn’t do that to me,” Kenzie Scanlon said.
For viewers like Scanlon, the film prompted reflection on their own lives, encouraging them to appreciate the individuals they often take for granted. Ultimately, The Unknown Number has connected audiences worldwide, providing them with a shared experience to reflect upon.
