UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has praised the Netflix series “Adolescence” for tackling the complex issues faced by young people in society. The show’s themes about societal pressures on teenagers have resonated with Starmer, who watched it with his teenage children and found it hit home hard.
The series has been made available to all secondary schools across the UK via the Into Film+ streaming service as part of a deal between Netflix and educational institutions. The move aims to encourage more pupils to watch the show and spark important conversations about the pressures young people face in today’s society.
Writer Jack Thorne and producer Stephen Graham worked on the series, which has captured the national mood by becoming the first streaming service series to top audience body Barb’s weekly list of the top 50 shows on television. The show explores the story of a 13-year-old boy accused of murdering his female classmate and poses questions about how society can help prevent such crises.
Experts say that the issues faced by young people today are complex and multifaceted, influenced by factors such as lack of adult guidance in institutions, increasing gerontophobia and ephebiphobia, increased digital interactions, and the lack of maturation of the pre-frontal cortex. The prolific cultural influences of “liquid post-modernity” also play a significant role.
Dr. Chap Clark, one of the writer’s doctoral readers, coined the phrase “systemic abandonment,” which refers to the intentional or unintentional abandonment of young people by society due to its individualistic and westernized culture. This phenomenon is exacerbated by the lack of faith in social institutions, increased consumerism targeting teenagers, and the proliferation of digital interactions that can both empower and isolate them.
The series’ themes and messages have sparked important conversations about the challenges faced by young people today. As Starmer noted, “openly talking about changes in how they communicate, the content they’re seeing, and exploring the conversations they’re having with their peers is vital if we are to properly support them in navigating contemporary challenges.”
Source: https://deadline.com/2025/03/adolescence-netflix-keir-starmer-1236354485