Adolescence is not a show for young people to watch at school
Picture: Netflix
Adolescence, the Netflix drama, is not a show for young people to watch at school. It is a wake-up call for parents and adults across the country.
Adolescence shines a brutal light on the pressures boys and girls face every day, forced to fit into society’s narrow stereotypes of the “ideal” man or woman. Its power lies in showing us how wide ranging and accumulative the negative influences on teenagers are and how alone they are in dealing with them. Writer Jack Thorne said he wanted to illustrate not just the influence of the incel culture but also of parents, school and friends. *
The show doesn’t offer any solutions, but surely where we must look for them lies in tackling those four influences Thorne is highlighting. We need to respond to the issues that play out in the programme with a comprehensive plan and not a knee-jerk reaction.
The Government needs to tackle online harms and to develop comprehensive whole school support to address this properly, including resources for teachers and parents. Adolescence is not a stand-alone educational piece and although it is likely that young people will recognise all the issues raised, it is unlikely they hold the power to change any of them without adult support.
*Adolescence: Netflix series writer Jack Thorne wants 'radical action not role models' - BBC News