Series « Adolescence »: Great Britain finally talks about toxic masculinity

You can’t avoid « adolescence » these days. Rarely has a TV series triggered such an echo in British society. From office talks to breakfast programs and hit podcasts to the MPs in the lower house-all speeches of « adolescence ». The conversation revolves around youth violence, incel culture, toxic masculinity and bullying on social media. The drama, which conquered the British streaming charts with 6.5 million viewers in the first week, has even made demands for a change in the law.

« Adolescence » is a four -part mini series about the murder of a teenager. 13-year-old Jamie is accused of having stabbed his classmate Katie. Already in the first episode – be careful, spoiler! – it becomes clear that Jamie committed the crime. So it is not a classic crime series, the creators are more concerned with the causes and consequences of violence.

Ruthlessly and dramatic

The spectators follow the police in the investigation at school, they accompany a criminal psychologist at a meeting with Jamie, and they watch the family try to get the tragedy. It is a relentless, captivating drama format-the almost one-hour episodes are filmed in a single cut, without interruption, what the audience throws into the action and does not give them any breath.

However, “Adolescence” has caused a stir, mainly because of the topic: at the center is the question of how grotesque masculinity images, spread in social media, fuel misogynia and contain teenagers to extreme violence. It is a trend that is increasingly causing concern in Great Britain as in many other countries.

Stephen Graham, who developed the series together with screenwriter Jack Thorne and plays the father of the suspect boy, said that his shock was crucial for the accumulation of fatal violence among teenagers. « What’s going on in our society when such things happen regularly? » He asked himself.

« Adolescence » is not based on a specific case, but Graham gave some examples of such violence that have made headlines in recent years. In November 2021, a twelve-year-old girl was murdered by a 14-year-old boy in Liverpool. In September 2023, a 17-year-old boy tilled a 15-year-old girl at a bus stop in Südlondon. The murder of the 16-year-old Trans girl Brianna Ghey in Northern English Warrington in February 2023 attracted a lot of attention. The perpetrators were a girl and a boy, both 15 years old.

Debate for social media

The role of social media is the focus of the debate about « adolescence ». In particular, it is about spreading toxic content-specifically: women-looking masculine ideals-about apps such as X, Snapchat and Instagram. Safe teenagers and young men can be seduced by such content, said « Adolescence » script author Thorne: « If I am 13 and feel alone and unattractive, then I have the feeling that these things are the answer to my problems, » he said.

Gareth Southgate said similarly. Two weeks ago, the ex-soccer star and former coach of the English national team gave a much-noticed speech in which he complained about the disappearance of positive role models for male teenagers. « Young men withdraw and trouble talking about their emotions, » said Southgate. The vacuum is filled by new role models, of « insensitive, manipulative and toxic influencers », which « make young people believe that success is measured by money or dominance, that one should not show emotions and that the whole world is targeting them, including women ».

What can you do? Some want to ban social media for teenagers, such as Australia. Screenwriter Jack Thorne has joined this requirement. Last year, a Labor MP worked out a legislative template that wants to tighten online security for young people-for example by protecting young teenagers from certain algorithms. Many MEPs, including those from other parties, are behind the demand.

But the government is currently shy away from taking too drastic measures. Instead, she refers to the online safety act. This new law on online security, which is currently being implemented, is intended to better protect children from harmful content in which the media groups are held responsible. Keir Strandmer said on Monday that there was no « silver ball » that can solve the problems raised in « Adolescence » in one fell swoop.