Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has emphasized the urgent need to address the “emerging and growing problem” raised by the recently released TV drama Adolescence, which tackles the impact of social media and misogynistic influencers on teenage boys.
The four-part series, co-written and starring actor Stephen Graham from Kirkby, Merseyside, tells the story of a family torn apart when their teenage son is arrested for the murder of a female classmate. The show, which premiered 2 weeks before, quickly became the most-watched program on Netflix globally over the weekend, drawing significant attention to the alarming effects of online radicalization.
Starmer, who had been watching the series with his family, responded after the issue was raised at Prime Minister’s Questions by Knowsley MP Anneliese Midgley. The Labour MP highlighted the show’s focus on male radicalization through online platforms and called for screenings in Parliament and schools to spark wider discussions on the issue. Midgley also urged the Prime Minister to support efforts to counter toxic misogyny and provide young men with positive role models.
The drama’s co-writer, Jack Thorne, shared his hopes that Adolescence would prompt national conversations and drive change. Thorne explained, “I want it to be shown in schools, I want it to be shown in Parliament. It’s crucial because this is only going to get worse. It’s something that people need to be talking about, hopefully that’s what drama can do.”
On March 19, Thorne appeared on BBC’s Newsnight, acknowledging how some young boys might be drawn to incel culture—a topic central to the series. He urged for broader societal engagement, saying, “It’s crucial because this is only going to get worse.”
Starmer, in his response to Midgley, noted that his family had been closely following the show, particularly with his teenage children. He described Adolescence as a “really good drama to watch” that resonated deeply with the issue of online violence perpetrated by young men, calling the phenomenon “abhorrent” and stressing the need for immediate action.
While Starmer highlighted that the government was already taking steps, such as deploying specialist rape and sexual offence teams within police forces, he underscored that the issues raised in the drama were “a matter of culture” that needed to be addressed collectively by society. “It’s important across the whole house that we tackle this emerging and growing problem,” he stated.
The conversation surrounding the series coincides with concerns raised by former England football manager Gareth Southgate, who recently addressed the issue of modern masculinity in his BBC Richard Dimbleby Lecture. Southgate expressed concern that young men were increasingly influenced by harmful online cultures, including gaming, gambling, and pornography, and called for better role models beyond internet influencers.
The growing public debate sparked by Adolescence underscores the need for comprehensive efforts to address the influence of toxic online spaces on young men and the importance of providing positive, supportive guidance for the next generation.
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