Adolescence - could this mark a point of change?

Netflix show Adolescence has exposed the potential dangers of social media and the online world for young people – according to MDX academic Helen Bendon

From a screen studies perspective, there is something particularly empowering about the influence of mainstream film and television to get people talking. And everyone is talking about Adolescence, directed by Philip Barantini.

We want to talk about it because it is excellent high-end television.

We want to talk about it because Adolescence presents an urgent issue for our time.

We want to talk about it because having men and boys – the writers and actors – stepping into this mainstream space to voice their concerns feels long overdue, and we’re ready for it.

Adolescence is a provocation.

Adolescence is a provocation to all adults, urging us to question the extent of our ignorance about the digital world our children occupy. Any parent or carer watching the shell-shocked father (portrayed by Stephen Graham) and mother (Christine Tremarco), will find themselves questioning – if they hadn’t already – what their children are exposed to online.

As the credits roll on episode one, parents and carers the world over are anxiously wondering how close am I to being Jamie Miller’s parent? Part of this anxiety is fuelled by our inability to look away – the single continuous take of each episode offers no form of relief from the unfolding trauma, forcing us to just keep watching. And this is precisely the point: we need to look at this and give the issue our full, unwavering attention.

Incel and ‘manosphere’ spaces operate in digital territories unfamiliar to most parents, carers and educators. In preparation for discussing toxic behaviours and language with young people, I have researched some of these spaces – and believe me, they are disturbing, unchecked and show no signs of abating. How young people navigate this content without guidance and support is deeply concerning, and is inevitably going to lead to further vulnerabilities.

The disconnect between family life and the digital lives of children is present throughout Adolescence but the series does more than just expose the dangers of toxic online influence. The backdrop to the unfolding events across the four episodes is years of austerity, chronic underfunding in education, social care and mental health provision. You can feel it in every scene. We have failed young people. And yet we blame them.

Much has been said in the media about getting all children to watch Adolescence as a catalyst for change, but a series alone cannot bear that responsibility. It’s a huge weight to lay at the hands of a mini-series, not produced with this in mind. For one, Adolescence does not come with any of the support mechanisms needed to train teachers to address these issues in the classroom. We must provide proper training and support for teachers to help them navigate the difficult, confronting reality that some teenage boys are viewing. Additionally, there needs to be significant reform to PSHE to create spaces where young people can safely share and process their digital experiences.

By implying that boys at risk of toxic influence might change simply by watching Adolescence, the message suggests that the problem lies mainly with them to solve.  In reality, there is a broader role for all of us to take. Within a week of Adolescence airing in the UK, Gareth Southgate delivered the Richard Dimbleby Lecture (18th March 2025).

“Ignoring the negative impacts of social media on our young people is not an option,” he stated. Indeed, we need more men and boys advocating for change and offering alternatives to manipulative destructive influencers. For me, the key is finding ways to support boys and young men in influencing each other towards empathetic, inclusive and healthy behaviours towards women and girls.

Every now and then, a production like Adolescence comes along that not only sheds light on an issue but that puts a rocket under it to remind us we have been sleepwalking towards disaster. Adolescence could mark the wake-up call we need to work collectively to protect our children from digital harms, rather than accept the inevitable loss of parental/carer control in digital spaces.

The Post Office scandal, whilst still not resolved, gained momentum in the judicial system only when Mr Bates vs the Post Office forced the issue into mainstream public consciousness. It is a prime example of how creative production can have a real impact on social change. Dare we hope for a similar culture shift as a result of Adolescence?

The complexity of the issues raised in Adolescence rightfully warrants critique, but we must not get lost in these details and miss the opportunity to “do a Mr Bates”. This is a moment to start addressing the harms we’re causing by failing to support boys – and the broader implications of this for women and girls.