Netflix’s ‘Adolescence’ Drives Urgent Conversations About Online Safety and Youth Violence

The critically acclaimed series has become a cultural touchstone, prompting calls for stricter online safety measures and highlighting societal failures in addressing youth alienation.

‘Adolescence,’ co-created by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne, has achieved global success on Netflix, racking up 24.3 million views in its first week and topping charts in 71 countries.
The series explores themes of toxic masculinity, online radicalization, and societal accountability through the story of a 13-year-old boy accused of murdering a classmate.
Its innovative one-shot-per-episode filming technique and standout performances, particularly by newcomer Owen Cooper, have drawn widespread critical acclaim.
The show has sparked discussions on the influence of online misogyny, with campaigners and policymakers urging stricter enforcement of the UK’s Online Safety Act to protect children from harmful content.
Creators advocate for the series to be used as an educational tool in schools and Parliament to address male rage, youth alienation, and the role of societal structures in shaping behavior.