Netflix’s latest docuseries How To Become A Cult Leader shines a spotlight on several cult leaders, one of which is American preacher Jim Jones, known for his People’s Temple cult. Yet despite Jones’ acts leading to the death of over 900 people, for Gen Z he seems to have nowhere near the name recognition of Charles Manson.

So why has Jones faded into relative obscurity? To understand how a man who pushed 909 people to their deaths doesn’t pervade a pop culture landscape obsessed with true crime, it’s first important to understand Jones’s history.

Jones was active in the United States between the 1950s and 1970s and ran a cult that was heavily rooted in religious beliefs and communalistic living. As depicted in the second episode of the docuseries, which also discusses the cults of Charles Manson, Jaime Gomez, Marshall Applewhite, Shoko Asahara, and Sun Myung Moon, Jones began his career as a preacher. 

The leader grew in popularity after being recognized for his supposed healing abilities (one surviving cult member claims in the docuseries that he healed her father’s cancer) and his inclusivity. Jones supported racial integration and uplifted Black families during times of rampant racism. Beyond that, he is known to be one-half of the first white couple to adopt a Black child in Indiana.

As Jones grew in power, his temple grew in size. Eventually, he moved its headquarters from Indianapolis to California. After people grew weary of his rulings and the church began receiving negative publicity, Jones relocated his disciples to Guyana, South America. He formed a commune called Jonestown, where years later, a massacre would occur leaving 909 people dead in a gruesome murder-suicide plot.

After watching this episode of the series, I immediately took to Google to dig up more information on Jones. I felt bamboozled – who the hell is this man, and why is this the first time I’m hearing of him? After doing some more research, I sent his Wikipedia page to my dad with the message, “Do you know who this man is?” After repeating this process a few times with other people who I know, I came to the conclusion (albeit based on a small sample set) that millennials know who Jones is, and boomers know who Jones is… But Gen Z? Not so much. Eventually, this new knowledge led me to stop the noise at a bustling Thursday night gathering in NYC to explain to everybody the demented story behind the popular “drink the Kool-aid” phrase that is still used today: it was coined after Jones led his followers to suicide via cyanide-laced Flavor-Aid.

But here’s the thing… I definitely wouldn’t be so mystified by Jones’s obscurity if it wasn’t for the popularity of the true crime genre and Charles Manson, who is perhaps the most well-known cult leader out there. Clearly, there’s proven interest in the subject. So why is Jones, someone who defined much of society’s understanding of cult practices and is known as the reason behind one of the largest losses of American civilian lives through a deliberate act until the September 11 attacks, still such an untouched subject? A lot of that boils down to one question: what makes a serial killer famous? And the answer, unfortunately, is how attractive they are.

Manson, who was still alive for many years after his killings, spurred a variety of documentaries and fictional works, as well as media attention for his behavior in prison. He inspired works by popular music artists like Beach Boys, Guns N’ Roses, and Marylin Manson (yes, Charles Manson was the inspiration behind his stage name), as well as magazine covers. In comparison, Jones’s acts, which left a congressman and several members of the press killed, were treated more as a political emergency with CNN and the History Channel spearheading documentaries. He did inspire his fair share of music in underground scenes — but not at the level of Manson.

There’s also their positioning as cult leaders which heavily distinguished the two. As portrayed in the Netflix docuseries, Manson was viewed as a “ladies’ man” before, during, and after his crimes. Even now, a surviving cult member who was interviewed for the series couldn’t help but dwell on Manson’s skills as a “lover.” Jones, on the other hand, was worshiped as a religious figure, hid his dubious sexuality, and expedited his cult’s final relocation following an exposé on sexual abuse within his community and his arrest for public indecency.

There’s a chance that Jones’ standing with Gen Z might turn around in the next few years, though. In 2021, a biopic was announced to be in the works starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Jones, and the following year, another one, led by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Chloe Grace Moretz, made headlines. Both of these projects have starry enough leads to catapult Jones into the attention of Gen Zers all around, and even more worrisome, they cast major Hollywood heartthrobs as the horrific leader.

Only time will tell what will become of Jones and how his image will be distorted, but Gen Z, I beg you… Please steer clear of the thirst TikToks.

How To Become A Cult Leader is currently streaming on Netflix.