Stephen Graham’s new show Adolescence has swept headlines this week following its release on 13 March, with the likes of Keir Starmer and Sir Gareth Southgate discussing what the show teaches us. While the show has gained attention for its one-shot method, a technique Graham also employed in his hit film Boiling Point, the truths revealed about the influence and dangers of social media on young boys form the undercurrent of the show.
Adolescence follows the arrest journey of 13-year-old Jamie Miller, accused of murdering a girl in his year the night before the first episode begins. While it is no spoiler to say that Jamie killed Katie, as the audience is provided with indisputable evidence in the first episode, it is not about who did it but why he did it that forms the major focus of the show’s themes and discussion. The plot delves into the dangerous reality of online influences and the “manosphere” on young boys.
These themes come to light especially in episode two, when DI Bascombe, played by Ashley Walters, and DS Frank, played by Faye Marsay, visit Jamie’s school to search for evidence and talk to other children to learn more about Jamie’s motivations. It is here that the show most clearly exposes the reality of what it is like to be a young person in the 2020s. Social media’s influence and grasp are undeniable, where ideas like the “80-20 rule” and the world of “incel” culture are spread and consumed with ease, as their online lives often feel more relevant than their real ones.
This is, unfortunately, a very real issue faced by young people today. Following COVID-19, the number of young people accessing the internet daily without supervision increased, and it is no surprise that this also correlated with a rise in radicalised misogynistic ideas. Figures like Andrew Tate have amassed millions of followers on X, formerly Twitter, boasting harmful beliefs about women and perpetuating toxic masculinity.
The show has certainly sparked discussion across the nation, asking us what we are teaching the next generation and how we can help tackle this culture of toxic masculinity to prevent further tragedies like the one seen in the show, and on our real news, from happening again.