Why is the Netflix hit ‘Adolescence’ stoking parents’ anxiety in the UK?

The show, released on March 13, quickly became Netflix’s top-viewed series for the week of March 10-16, garnering 24.3 million views within its first four days, according to Variety. Its success has ignited conversations in homes and workplaces, with even Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledging that he was watching it with his children.

A story that feels too real

‘Adolescence’ follows Jamie, a British schoolboy whose life is upended when armed police raid his home at dawn and arrest him. As the plot unfolds, one unsettling question lingers: could this seemingly innocent child be capable of such brutality?

The series touches on themes of incel culture—short for involuntary celibacy—where disaffected young men develop a deep resentment towards women, often fuelled by online influencers. Parents and experts have expressed alarm over how easily children can be exposed to such extremist ideologies through social media.

Isabelle, a mother of two teenage daughters in Glasgow, admitted she was “shocked” by the series and feared its storyline was all too plausible. “You don’t have any insight into the youth culture, you know, Instagram, all that stuff that you have no insight into. And adults are basically shut out… and that’s really scary,” she said. “If your child is sucked into it, what do you do, or how do you get them out of it?”

A wake-up call for parents

British media has amplified the debate, with the Daily Mail warning parents to look for signs of radicalisation, such as boys isolating themselves or becoming fixated on their social media following. The show’s depiction of social media’s role in shaping young minds has intensified concerns about online algorithms that push harmful content to teenagers.

Stephen Graham, the show’s creator and lead actor, revealed that the inspiration for ‘Adolescence’ came after hearing about two teenage girls murdered by young men within weeks of each other. “It really hurt my heart, and I went a bit cold, and I just thought, what kind of society are we living in today where this thing is becoming a regular occurrence,” he told the BBC.

Co-writer Jack Thorne echoed similar concerns, stating that their research led them “into the darkest holes of the internet.” He warned that “it doesn’t take long to access and these kids are being polluted by this stuff, and we need to stop that pollution,” calling on the government to intervene.

Experts urge constructive dialogue

Michael Conroy, founder of Men at Work, a group that educates teachers and social workers on tackling sexism, praised the show for sparking crucial discussions. “The drama is brilliant and will be used a lot by teachers and parents. It will create essential conversations,” he said.

However, he cautioned against framing these discussions as blame-oriented. “If those discussions come across as criticism, they will not lead to constructive dialogue, and I don’t think many boys or young men will engage. They will feel attacked.”

Andy Burrows, director of the Molly Rose Foundation, which was created after 14-year-old Molly Russell died in 2017 after viewing harmful content online, described ‘Adolescence’ as “the right series coming at the right time.” He pointed to Russell’s case, in which an inquest revealed that out of 16,300 posts she interacted with in the six months before her death, 2,100 related to depression, self-harm, or suicide.

Burrows called the series “an amazing service in facilitating the national conversation about the impact of extreme misogyny and the ways in which online content and online influencers are able to skew the views of teenagers and young boys.” He also reiterated the need for stronger regulation of online algorithms, stating, “This can be a really powerful wake-up call of the need to ensure that young boys are not being algorithmically bombarded with content.”