In March, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer engaged in a roundtable discussion at Downing Street with the creative minds behind the Netflix series ‘Adolescence.’ He shared his personal experience of viewing the series with his own teenage children.
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“As a dad, I have found it challenging to watch. My daughter is 14, and my son is 16, making it particularly tough,” he reflected during a conversation with journalists.
Mr. Starmer was encouraged by Netflix’s decision to provide access to the series for free to secondary schools throughout the UK. He noted its significance in addressing issues related to misogyny and harmful online content.
— Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller in Adolescence (Courtesy: Netflix©2024)
While not every school in the UK intends to screen ‘Adolescence,’ many educators acknowledge that it has prompted crucial discussions about online safety and misogyny.
A Spotlight on Everyday Problems
At Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School, located in northwest London and known for its diverse student and teacher population with connections to Ireland, the focus on online safety and misogyny has been a priority.
Pat Kelly, the Head of Boys Development, remarked that while the series embodies an extreme depiction of toxic masculinity, more nuanced manifestations are present in everyday interactions. “When faced with an obvious extreme, it’s easy for society to declare it wrong,” he explained. “What ‘Adolescence’ highlights is the necessity for all of us to understand the spectrum of online misogyny. It’s clear that when such toxicity results in tragedy, there is widespread condemnation. But do we react similarly to more subtle forms of misogynistic banter?”
Mr. Kelly is committed to teaching “positive masculinity” and elucidating its meaning in today’s context. He emphasized the challenge for parents and educators in confronting inappropriate behavior within the realm of social media. “In the past, exposure to misogyny might have occurred in settings like football matches and pubs, but a new generation faces a deluge of misogynistic content online, which poses a greater risk due to its lack of regulation,” he stated.
Engaging Parents
Ann-Marie McLoughlin from Cardinal Wiseman has been leading workshops aimed at enlightening parents about monitoring their children’s social media behavior. She mentioned that the dynamics have changed drastically since the days before social media, suggesting that, “In those times, children’s behavior was more closely observed. Parents would commonly intervene, ensuring that harmful behavior was addressed. We need to rekindle that sense of vigilance.”
Fifteen-year-old Erin echoed this sentiment. When discussing the idea of screening ‘Adolescence’ in schools, she argued, “It might be more beneficial to show it to parents. This would not only raise their awareness of harmful online content but also help them manage how their children navigate social media.”
A Valuable Resource for Teachers
Bohir, an 18-year-old final-year student, sees the potential of ‘Adolescence’ as a teaching tool rather than a standalone viewing experience. “The crux of the series, for me, revolves around toxic masculinity and the harmful online content that can lead young people into problematic communities without them even realizing it,” he shared. “Incorporating the series into the curriculum, with guidance from teachers, would enhance its educational impact.”
Although Cardinal Wiseman has yet to include the series in their lessons, Ms. McLoughlin concurred that if it were to be screened, using specific clips could effectively support the curriculum.
Perspectives from Ireland
In Ireland, Minister for Education Helen McEntee expressed no objections to the idea of incorporating ‘Adolescence’ into secondary school curricula. “The series has illuminated significant challenges that young people encounter, and I believe it should be at the discretion of schools to integrate this into their curriculum, complementing their existing Social, Personal, and Health Education (SPHE) efforts.”
She highlighted the connection between students’ online experiences and their real-life interactions, prompting discussions about safeguarding youth on social media. “While exploring measures like banning social media for under-16s—similar to Australia’s proposed legislation—can be beneficial, we should also prioritize dialogues with young people about their online behaviors,” she added.
In concluding her remarks, Minister McEntee affirmed the vital role of the Online Safety Commissioner in ensuring that social media platforms act responsibly and remove harmful content.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring
