The four-part Netflix series Adolescence is one of the most compelling dramas I’ve watched in recent years. It’s intense, shot entirely in one take per episode, and grips the viewer from the opening frame. Each instalment holds a mirror to the darker corners of society and sheds light on pressing issues that are often brushed aside in everyday conversations.
Since its release, Adolescence has shot up the charts, becoming Netflix’s fourth most-watched English-language series with over 114 million views. The single-shot format has earned acclaim for its rawness and immediacy, but more importantly, it has opened up a much-needed dialogue around topics like toxic masculinity, radicalisation, and the quiet crisis unfolding behind closed doors.
Until I watched this series, I had never come across the term “Involuntary Celibates” or “incels.” As portrayed here, it refers to a growing online subculture of young heterosexual men who claim they are unable to find partners and blame society for their alienation. These communities, often operating in the shadows of the internet, are breeding grounds for resentment and misdirection. One name that keeps recurring in this universe is Andrew Tate—a man who, until recently, I had only heard in passing. The series paints a chilling picture of his influence on vulnerable teenage boys.
At the centre of the story is a boy—plain-looking, quiet, and seemingly harmless. But inside, he is filled with self-loathing and isolation. This young character is slowly and methodically radicalised through online content. What follows is a tragedy, and I won’t reveal more, because this series is best watched without spoilers. But I urge every parent to see it—especially those with teenage children. The message it carries is urgent.
The boy commits a horrendous act. His parents are utterly unaware of his inner turmoil. The father, in particular, is left reeling after watching the footage of what his son has done. He thought his child was simply reserved, maybe a little awkward—but safe. The shift from denial to devastation is powerful and uncomfortable.
This is where the concept of digital parenting becomes crucial. We teach children to cross the road, to be polite, to say thank you. But very few of us have taught them how to move through the vast and chaotic digital world. We’ve handed them powerful devices without enough guidance, and this series reminds us just how dangerous that can be.
Jamie, the main character, becomes a warning sign—an extreme but not unthinkable example of what happens when impressionable minds are left to wander through harmful content online. The so-called “manosphere” and its narratives have found fertile ground, and parents, educators, and policymakers need to take notice.
Until I watched this, I thought the 80:20 rule was about productivity. Turns out, in these corners of the internet, it refers to something far more disturbing—the belief that only 20% of men are desired by women, fuelling a dangerous resentment among the remaining 80%. These warped ideas are shaping the way young people see relationships, power, and identity.
There’s urgency in addressing this. Action is needed, not hand-wringing. Families, schools, and communities must come together and respond. Conversations at cafés and gatherings often turn to the dangers of screen time, but awareness alone won’t cut it. What’s needed is engagement—ongoing, sincere, and grounded.
The series doesn’t offer solutions, but it makes you stop and think. It lingers. Scenes stretch beyond what is comfortable. There’s no neat wrap-up, no moral spoon-fed to the viewer. That’s what makes it effective. It demands participation—reflection, discussion, maybe even change.
Where do we go from here? Talk to your kids. Know what they’re watching, reading, and sharing. Try to set boundaries around screen time, even when it’s inconvenient. Encourage them to move, to read, to play music, to sleep properly. Give them your time and your ear, even when they don’t seem to want it. Love them without conditions.
Today’s teens are growing up in an environment that even five years ago would have seemed impossible to predict. They’re more exposed, more connected, and yet more isolated than ever before. We can’t protect them from everything, but we can guide them through the maze. With care, attention, and presence, we can raise a generation that’s not lost to the digital void.
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🎬 @netflix's #Adolescence exposes #incel culture & online radicalisation through gripping single-take drama. ⚠️ Urgent watch for parents – highlights digital dangers facing teens. 💻 Sparks vital conversations about toxic masculinity. #TheIndianSunhttps://t.co/Oq3HNfeIya
— The Indian Sun (@The_Indian_Sun) April 11, 2025
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