You are perhaps living under a rock if you still haven’t heard about Netflix’s psychological crime drama series—Adolescence. While the series, developed by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, is hailed as a technical masterpiece, especially for its continuous one-take style of filming each episode, Adolescence also raises a number of complex issues, especially about the impact of social media on young children’s mental health.
Directed by Philip Barantini, this four-part, ground-breaking series delves into the severity of the emotional turmoil that peer pressure, digital conditioning, and online subcultures can cause, even on children from loving homes, pushing them into dangerous territories.
For the uninformed, set in a North England town, Adolescence follows 13-year-old Jamie Miller, who murdered his schoolmate Katie Leonard after she refused to go out with him. Unlike the archetypical crime thrillers that usually point fingers at childhood traumas or dysfunctional families, Adolescence, with utmost raw honesty, explores why a child, despite a stable upbringing and nurturing parents, commits a horrific crime. As each episode unfolds, it forces viewers to confront some harsh realities of the cyber world and how young, impressionable minds can be heavily influenced by negative content. Adolescence brings to the fore topics like toxic masculinity, the incel movement, cyberbullying, the sinister layers of emoji language, and the manosphere, where influencers like Andrew Tate are responsible for the online radicalization of teenagers and peddling misogyny.
As unsettling as this gripping series is, it also prompts a pertinent question: What can parents and caregivers do to protect children?
In this digital age, where everyone eats, sleeps, and breathes online content, unfortunately, the answer isn’t that straightforward. As scary as it is, parents can’t entirely control everything that a child is consuming in digital space. But with the right approach, they can offer guidance and support, build trust, and try to protect their children from the evil, dark corners of social media.
Start Talking
A 2022 report suggests that nearly 90% of teens aged between 13 and 17 spend hours on several social media platforms each day. Furthermore, a 2024 WHO report states that 5% of adolescents have experienced cyberbullying, with the rates closely aligned between boys (15%) and girls (16%). And let’s face it, saying ‘no’ and dissuading teenagers from using social media entirely is not the answer.
Hence, experts recommend that before imposing any parental restrictions, try to comprehend the child’s social media usage. Casual open-ended questions inquiring about the platforms they like, who they follow and why, how they interpret what they see on social media, and if there is anything or anyone that makes them uncomfortable. Such questions will help you assess their online consumption and behavior better.
The key is starting conversations with them and creating a safe space, instead of lecturing, as it will help foster trust and strengthen your connection with them.
Practice What You Preach
A study published in the Pediatric Research Journal highlights a strong link between parents' screen habits and increased screen time among adolescents. When children see their parents excessively use digital devices, they are much more likely to mirror that behavior.
If you want to limit your children’s social media usage, you need to practice what you preach by balancing your digital habits too. You can’t spend hours mindlessly scrolling through feeds and expect your child to behave otherwise.
If your work requires you to be online for long hours, take the time to explain to them that your use of technology is work-related. Whenever possible, practice digital detox and be mindful of your social media usage. Set time limits for your screen time and then ask your children to follow suit. The less dependent you are on devices and social media, the easier it is for you to set healthy digital boundaries for your children.
Encourage Building Offline Connections
Pew Research Centre’s survey pointed out that teenagers are usually more cheerful and happy when they are not using their phones, emphasizing the importance of offline experiences. So, ensure that you set some screen-time rules and encourage your child to bond with family and friends, sans any use of devices.
For instance, establishing a no-devices rule during mealtimes will help them improve social interactions and encourage family-time conversations. Gently push your teens to pick up any outdoor/indoor activities with their friends that don’t involve screen time and playing video games in their rooms. Plan fun weekend activities like picnics, beach outings, pool days, hiking, skiing, skating, or bowling to create opportunities for real-world connections. The less dependent they are on screens, the more they can build stronger connections with people and discover the world beyond the internet.
Help Them Engage Responsibly
Teaching kids digital etiquette and how to have respectful online interactions is crucial in today’s time. Begin by explaining what is acceptable and what is not. Teach them basic ethics of being a good human and courteous behavior in the digital space—not to gossip, spread rumors, body shame, disrespect, or harm someone’s reputation online or otherwise. Encourage them to use decent language and tone for all communication online and refrain from cyberbullying.
Moreover, it’s vital to know that despite all the privacy settings, teenagers are likely to encounter all kinds of content on social media, but what’s essential here is to equip them with skills to fact-check the sources, condemn harmful narratives, and be respectful towards different perspectives. Educating them about digital footprints and encouraging them to think critically before sharing anything will help them navigate through the complexities of social media.
Seek Professional Help When Needed
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, there is a possibility that your child may struggle with the darker side of the digital world and show signs of anxiety, depression, cyberbullying, and low self-esteem, directly or indirectly.
As parents, one should stay alert to sudden changes in behavior, especially if they spend a lot of time on their digital devices. If you notice anything concerning, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. The final episode of Adolescence raises an important question: Did the parents miss the signs of their son’s growing temper? Well, it isn’t easy to monitor minute details of your child’s behavior, but maintaining open conversations and being observant can help spot early warning signs.
Be Responsible Around Them
As mentioned earlier, teenagers subconsciously absorb what they see in their surroundings. So, sometimes a harmless, casual joke about your partner in front of friends or family can influence their thinking of what’s acceptable, and when they see something similar online, it may not appear problematic to them. As impossible as it is to censor all of this, the least one can do is be responsible around your teens and teach boys (and girls) the difference between right and wrong. It’s as simple as that. Disrespect of any kind, even if it is disguised as a joke or a viral WhatsApp forward—should never be normalized. By exhibiting thoughtfulness in our everyday actions, we show them what healthy behavior looks like, both online and offline.
