By Renee Chopping, Trauma Counsellor and Collective Shout Campaigner
The UK government's recent decision to make Netflix's Adolescence series mandatory viewing in schools has raised significant concerns - and not without reason.
While the series raises important topics about the realities facing young people today - including the rise of the manosphere and incel culture, sexual harassment, online bullying, the pressure to share nudes, misogyny, and the mental health impacts of our hypersexualised, hyperconnected world - the series was not made for teens. It was made for adults.
The reality is, the issues raised in Adolescence are already part of many teens’ daily lives. Watching a Netflix series isn’t going to “reveal” a hidden world; young people are already navigating these risks, often silently and alone. What they need is not another passive viewing experience, but active, supported conversations with the people who know them best - their parents and carers.
Get Our Free Discussion Guide: Don't Leave it to Netflix: How You Can Lead the Hard Conversations
Expecting teachers to facilitate conversations around such heavy, complex topics - often involving disclosures of harm - without robust, wrap-around support is short-sighted. As a trauma counsellor who works with young people, I have serious concerns about this approach - as well intended as it may be. While teachers may have access to referral pathways for students who disclose harm, they do not have the time, specialist training, or capacity to provide the sensitive, ongoing care each disclosure deserves. Expecting educators to manage the emotional fallout from this content - alongside their already overwhelming workloads - is a risk to both teachers and students.
That’s why, rather than endorsing the UK’s mandatory viewing model, we created a FREE Discussion Guide to better equip parents and carers to lead these vital conversations.
Regardless of whether you or your teen have watched Adolescence, this guide will help you:
- Open up honest, non-judgemental conversations at home
- Use simple prompts to discuss online bullying, mental health, sexual harassment + more
- Understand key facts that inform and empower
- Know where to turn if you or your teen need additional support
Because the truth is, we can’t protect our young people from everything. But we can give them the tools to question harmful narratives, to seek help, and to build a future rooted in respect, empathy, and strength.
You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to be there.
See also:
Don’t leave kids to defend themselves: Social Media Report cites our evidence
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