Netflix’s "Adolescence": A Stark Reflection of Modern Teenage Struggles

Netflix’s Adolescence has swept the nation, and with good reason. It has sparked intense discussions amongst parents and educators about the challenges young people face today, particularly in relation to mental health, education, and the impact of the digital world.

Adolescence follows 13-year-old Jamie Miller, a vulnerable teenager who becomes ensnared in toxic online spaces, ultimately leading to a horrific act of violence against a female classmate. Through Jamie’s story, the series tackles themes such as online radicalisation, the stark reality of the education system and school environments, and the role of social media in shaping adolescent behaviour.

Not only is Adolescence a cinematic masterpiece with incredible acting and cinematography, but it is the perfect illustration of what our young people are experiencing every day, potentially right under our noses. Let's explore the themes.

The Rise of the Manosphere and the Influence of Andrew Tate

One of the most striking aspects of Adolescence is how it depicts Jamie’s gradual immersion into the “manosphere”—a collection of online communities that promote misogyny, hyper-masculinity, and often extreme anti-feminist ideologies.

The show draws direct parallels to the real-world influence of figures like Andrew Tate, a controversial social media personality whose content has reached millions of young boys worldwide. Thankfully, Andrew Tate himself has been off our TikTok feeds for a while following his arrest, but his influence can still be felt across many social media platforms.

Tate and similar influencers market themselves as role models for disaffected young men, promising wealth, dominance, and control over women. Their content, often framed as “self-improvement,” is riddled with messages that demean women and encourage aggressive masculinity.

Adolescence effectively illustrates how impressionable boys, like Jamie, can be drawn into these echo chambers when they feel isolated, bullied, or unsupported in the real world.

The show highlights a key issue: many young boys lack positive male role models and emotional outlets, making them more susceptible to extremist ideologies. Without guidance, they turn to figures like Tate, whose content is widely accessible on platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.

This raises an important question—what can parents, educators, and society do to counteract this growing problem?

The Role of Social Media in Adolescent Development

Another major theme in Adolescence is the unfiltered exposure young people have to harmful content through social media. Today’s teenagers are spending unprecedented amounts of time online, with platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube shaping their views on relationships, identity, and self-worth.

A 2023 report by Ofcom found that:

• 91% of children aged 12-15 use social media daily.

• 62% of young people have encountered misogynistic or harmful content online.

• 33% of teenage boys admitted to following influencers who promote controversial or extremist views.

  
  

The show portrays how Jamie’s social media habits escalate from casual browsing to full immersion in radical online spaces. It demonstrates how algorithms reinforce these harmful narratives by continuously recommending similar content, creating an echo chamber effect. Once a young boy engages with even one misogynistic video, his feed can become flooded with more of the same, making it difficult to escape these ideas.

What makes this even more concerning is that much of this content is disguised as “motivational” or “self-help,” making it harder for parents and teachers to recognise the warning signs.

Another aspect of social media is explored in Adolescence is the concept of emojis, which we all use every day, having alternative meanings. Whilst adults may see emojis like a snowflake, apple or lightning symbol and think nothing of them, many common emojis have secret meanings linked with harmful topics such as violence, drugs, sex and incel culture.

These emojis, accompanied often by torrents of written words, can be sent on a variety of different platforms to children, humiliating them in group-chats, school-wide channels and, of course, directly.

Cyber bullying is rife in schools, and we see it all too often leading to the worst outcomes where children ultimately take their own lives. What I find unbelievable is that children are being cyberbullied, and bullied on the playground, about topics they shouldn't even be aware of. At 13, I hadn't even thought about sex or drugs, so the thought that 13 year olds now are being bullied because they haven't had sex or tried drugs or are going to be an incel is unfathomable.

Adolescence serves as a wake-up call, urging adults to take a more proactive role in discussing social media literacy and critical thinking with young people.

Failures of the Education System in Addressing These Issues

The series also sheds light on how schools struggle to combat these toxic influences that are creeping into many young peoples lives. Jamie’s school is depicted as chaotic, underfunded, and lacking resources to properly support students. Teachers appear overwhelmed, unable to intervene effectively as Jamie’s behaviour starts to change.

Having spoken to many secondary teachers and even some primary school teachers, the show depicts the genuine reality of teaching in todays schools perfectly. I personally have experienced young students saying misogynistic things to me during my lessons, and I've heard stories of much worse.

Schools are at breaking point with regards to funding. With rising numbers of students with SEND or SEMH needs, students with difficult home lives and simply not enough resources to support them, students are being failed.

Many schools are still figuring out how to tackle these issues, often lacking the proper curriculum to teach boys about healthy masculinity, respectful relationships, and media literacy.

However, in response to the concerns raised by Adolescence and the growing influence of figures like Tate, the UK government has announced plans to update the Relationships, Health, and Sex Education (RHSE) curriculum. The proposed changes will specifically address online misogyny, teaching young people how to critically evaluate harmful content and recognise manipulation tactics used by online influencers.

Do you think this will actually make a difference, or do we need to be looking at the root cause as to why young people are seeking this kind of content?

Parental Challenges in the Digital Age

The show also delves into the struggles parents face in navigating their children’s online lives. Jamie’s parents, Eddie and Manda, are well-intentioned but ultimately out of touch with the extent of their son’s digital engagement.

They assume he is simply playing video games and chatting with friends, unaware that he is being drawn into an extremist online world. Many parents are in the same position. Who would really think that apps aimed at children would allow such horrific content on their platforms?!

This aspect of the show highlights a significant challenge for modern parents—how do you monitor and guide your child’s online activity without invading their privacy or pushing them further away?

Experts suggest that open communication, rather than strict bans, is key. Parents must engage in conversations about the content their children consume, encouraging critical thinking rather than passive acceptance.

A Call for Action

Adolescence is more than just a TV show—it’s a powerful critique of the digital landscape young people navigate every day. By addressing issues such as the influence of the manosphere, the role of social media, and the failures of the education system, the series urges society to take a more active role in supporting and protecting young people.

For educators, this means implementing stronger curricula on digital literacy and healthy relationships. For parents, it means fostering open conversations about online content. And for policymakers, it means holding social media platforms accountable for the harmful content their algorithms promote.

Ultimately, Adolescence serves as a stark warning: if we do not address these issues now, we risk losing a generation of boys to harmful ideologies that threaten not only their well-being but also the safety and equality of society as a whole.