The new British series “Adolescence,” which depicts the lives of a family torn apart after the arrest of a 13-year-old boy accused of murdering a peer, has sparked much discussion about the impact of internet culture and violence on young people. The four-part drama, which has been a hit in Britain and the US, centers on a boy named Jamie and the aftermath of a tragic act, which is influenced by violent ideas and influencers on social media.
For the show's creators, Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, this project aims to examine an increasing phenomenon of violence among young people, especially young people affected by misogynistic ideologies and internet culture, such as the "manosphere" and "incel", which have a profound impact on the psychology of some young boys.
Manopshere is a term used to describe websites and online forums that promote misogyny and opposition to feminism, while incels - short for involuntary celibate - are men who blame women for being unable to find a sexual partner.
Thorne stressed that this problem is becoming increasingly present and that it will continue to worsen if it is not taken seriously.
"This is a drama about a child who does the wrong thing and causes great harm. To understand that, we have to understand the pressures on him. Jamie is polluted by ideas that he hears on the internet, that make sense to him, that have an appealing logic to him, that answer questions about his loneliness and isolation and make him make some very bad choices. I want it to show up in schools, I want it to show up in parliament. It's crucial because this is only going to get worse. It's something that people need to talk about, hopefully that's what the drama can do," Thorne said.
Graham, who plays Jamie's father, explained that the inspiration for the project came after he saw some violent reports in the news of young boys committing horrific crimes against girls. He expressed concern that such incidents were becoming more common and sought to understand more about the reasons behind these acts.
"I read an article in the newspaper about a young man who had killed a young girl and three weeks later I was watching the news and there was a story about a young man who had stabbed a young girl to death. It really hurt my heart, I just thought, 'What is happening in society where this is becoming a common occurrence?'" he stated.
The play emphasizes that a society, school, and family can play an important role in shaping a child's life, giving or taking away opportunities for a better future. The creators of the play want Adolescence to be used as an educational tool, to create a deep discussion on the consequences of these influences and how to prevent the spread of dangerous ideas among young people.
With a story that could happen to anyone and a world that seems increasingly influenced by social networks and internet culture, "Adolescence" is a call to be more committed to protecting young people from the threats that may come from the increasingly present virtual world. (A2 Televizion)
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