Netflix’s Chilling New Drama ‘Adolescence’

In the early hours of a seemingly normal Tuesday morning, a 13-year-old boy named Jamie is awoken from his sleep by the sound of heavy footsteps. He rubs his eyes in confusion, only to be met by the blunt faces of police officers, who inform him that he is under arrest for a crime he can’t yet comprehend. With his childhood bed still warm beneath him, Jamie is thrust into a harrowing world where innocence gives way to accusation, scrutiny, and ultimately, the harsh glare of public opinion. This haunting scenario is the premise of Netflix’s latest drama, Adolescence, which has captivated over 66 million viewers worldwide since its release. However, it’s not just the story itself that has drawn attention; it’s the near-collective gasp of parents, grappling with both the narrative and the sinister implications of a digital age rife with opportunity for misunderstanding and harmful influences.

An Expression of Parental Panic

The show has ignited a wave of intense online discourse among parents, many of whom have connected deeply with Jamie’s plight. As the New Yorker aptly describes, Adolescence serves as an expression of parental panic; it lays bare the anxieties that abound in an age where navigating adolescence includes social media pitfalls and an influx of misogynistic content. “I did not know that danger was in plain sight but so cleverly hidden from me,” writes Jen McGuire for the parenting site Scary Mommy, echoing a sentiment shared widely across platforms.

TikTok has become a virtual support group for “boy moms,” some weeping over the show’s climax while fervently urging others to watch. Yet, what is it about the show that has struck such a nerve? It’s the realization that much of what occurs in Adolescence is not merely fiction; it feels alarmingly plausible in a world saturated with both digital intimacy and danger.

Dangers Lurking in Digital Shadows

As researchers like Shana MacDonald, the O’Donovan Chair in Communication at the University of Waterloo, analyze the show’s implications, they reveal the stark reality many parents overlook. “The exposure youth have to damaging and harmful content has surpassed our awareness,” MacDonald states. A recent survey by the White Ribbon Campaign revealed that 82% of parents polled were unaware of the ‘manosphere,’ an online enclave where extremist groups congeal and target adolescent boys, propagating misogyny and radical ideas.

Another poll from IPSOS U.K. confirms a disconcerting truth: one in seven parents lacks confidence in their understanding of what their children encounter online. “We are lacking media literacy as a culture on how to mediate conversations with younger populations regarding the kinds of violence and hateful beliefs they encounter,” MacDonald explains, stressing the importance of parents engaging with their children regarding these dangers.

‘Adults Are Not in the Know’

Throughout Adolescence, viewers see Jamie’s transformation from a naive child to someone possibly shaped by toxic online cultures. The moment he is arrested, his fear is palpable. Viewers watch him, collapsed in fear, questioning how this could happen. The turning point, however, occurs when undeniable CCTV footage reveals Jamie committing the act, prompting his father to grapple with something unfathomable: his child, a brutalizer. The intentional shock of witnessing the boy’s violence mirrors the very panic parents are experiencing, emphasizing that these radical ideas are not distant threats but potential realities.

Culture writer Amil Niazi articulates this well: “You have to see him as someone that could be your child in order for you to understand the gravity of what’s happening to these young men.” The juxtaposition of innocence and guilt shatters the protective bubble many parents wish to retain around their children.

Is the Threat Real?

As the series unfolds, the layers of Jamie’s exposure to incel culture become evident. Characterized by violently antifeminist ideologies, incel culture represents a rising threat that may have profound implications on young minds. While fiction, the narrative of Adolescence taps into genuine fears: children exposed to harmful ideologies through their devices can find themselves spiraling without guidance. This concern is not unfounded; according to the Canadian Museum of Human Rights, self-identified incels have committed more than 50 murders since 2014 across North America.

Yet the series faces criticism for fearmongering. The argument posits that not every boy exposed to misogyny will act violently. Leading parenting expert Michelle Mitchell argues that “the kids most vulnerable to the manosphere are often those disconnected from loving, caring homes.” Indeed, the implications for parental engagement and monitoring are stark, yet the show raises questions that can no longer be ignored.

What Can Parents Do?

In the final episode, Jamie’s family grapples with the long-term ramifications of his actions, igniting the conversation about parental responsibility and intervention. “We made him,” exhales Jamie’s mother in a raw moment of realization. As parents collectively wonder what more they could have done, experts advocate for a proactive approach to parenting.

• Limit screen time and access.
• Implement parental controls on devices and platforms.
• Maintain transparency by having access to children’s phones, social media accounts, and messages.
• Engage in open discussions about family values around gender, online safety, and the legal consequences of online behavior.

As British Prime Minister Keir Starmer noted, accepting the uncomfortable truths about modern parenting may prove invaluable. The urgent dialogue surrounding Adolescence is not only about the horrifying realities depicted onscreen but about the responsibility of adults to bridge the widening gap between generations. Their dialogue must extend beyond casual conversations and venture into the critical territory of understanding young people’s digital lives.

Source: www.cbc.ca