LONDON — The creators of the powerful Netflix series Adolescence have brought critical attention to the dangers facing children online, particularly the rise of violent misogyny and harmful digital content. Their efforts have reached the highest levels of government, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer meeting the team at 10 Downing Street on Monday to discuss child protection and education reform.
Starmer expressed his support for a new Netflix initiative to offer the show free to all secondary schools in the U.K. The goal is to make the gripping drama accessible to students nationwide, helping them confront pressing social issues such as toxic masculinity, online radicalization, and unhealthy relationships.
The series, which debuted in March and has already attracted 66.3 million views globally, centers on the story of a 13-year-old boy accused of fatally stabbing a classmate. It explores the influence of social media—often invisible to adults—on teenage behavior and decision-making.
Starmer, a father of two teenagers, said the show was difficult to watch with his children, but emphasized its importance: “It addresses the fears we all carry as parents. What it highlights about misogyny and its grip on society is both painful and necessary.”
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He added, “There’s no single solution. This is a societal problem that demands a collective response.”
Behind the Drama
Jack Thorne, one of the series’ writers, said the intention was to spark reflection and dialogue among young people and adults alike. “We wanted to start conversations that matter. Sharing this with schools is beyond anything we imagined.”
Stephen Graham, who co-created and stars in the show as the accused boy’s father, said the story was meant to challenge the instinct to blame only families when youth violence occurs.
“People often ask, ‘What kind of home did they come from?’ But what if the issue isn’t just the family?” he said. “Maybe the responsibility is broader—schools, neighborhoods, society.”
The Reality in Schools
The release of Adolescence coincides with growing alarm over sexual misconduct and abuse among young people. Soma Sara, founder of the nonprofit Everyone’s Invited, says her organization has received over 1,600 anonymous reports of sexual abuse occurring in primary schools, highlighting that such behavior begins far earlier than most assume.
“These stories show a grim truth—children are abusing other children, often before the age of 10,” Sara said.
She emphasized that banning social media outright isn’t a realistic answer. Instead, Everyone’s Invited is working in schools to equip students with tools to critically analyze the misogyny and harmful narratives they may encounter online.
“Parents need to understand the digital spaces their kids inhabit—Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube. These are more than just apps; they’re environments where values and identities are being shaped,” she said.
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The Bigger Picture
The show’s impact arrives as the U.K. faces urgent concerns about children’s exposure to explicit online material and the influence of polarizing internet figures. Influencers like Andrew and Tristan Tate—who face serious criminal charges—have helped normalize extreme views among young male audiences, according to officials.
Gavin Stephens, chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said the effects are becoming increasingly evident. U.K. police now respond to over a million cases of violence against women and girls each year, amounting to around 20% of all recorded crime.
“This crisis won’t be solved overnight, but stories like Adolescence are helping to shine a light,” Sara added. “When a child commits a violent act, we have to ask: how did we all allow this to happen?”
Ultimately, she said, “This is not a fringe problem. It’s a community issue—and one we all must take responsibility for.”
