Netflix’s Adolescence: How the dramatic increase in knife crime influenced the show; why parents need to protect their kids from social media

Parenting isn’t an easy job, and there can be nothing right or wrong. Just when you think your child is safe, you realise he isn’t. Even within the four walls of the house, your child can be a victim of social media bullying and pornography. Netflix’s Adolescence talks about that.

 According to the United Nations report published in Harpers Bazar, an estimated 736 million women — almost one in three — have been subjected to violence, physical and/or sexual, or both, at least once in their lifetime. With that information in mind, Adolescence’s creators, Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, hope the show can be implemented as an educational tool.

James Miller ( Owen Cooper), the main protagonist of the show, is a 13-year-old school kid, who has been polluted by the ideas on social media. Netflix’s Adolescence show is a story of a 13-year-old boy accused of the stabbing murder of his female classmate.  He has been a victim of bullying by his classmate Katty. He one night decides to kill her. This girl has accused him of being an ‘incel’ which refers to a group of men who are angry at women for not having sex with them.

Jamie admits to seeing value in Andrew Tate’s “80-20 thing,” as he calls it, the idea that “80 percent of women are attracted to 20 percent of men”.

Not justifying what James Miller has done, as shown in Netflix’s Adolescence, which is a mini-series not based on a true story but influenced by the dramatic increase in knife crime in Britain.

How common is online bullying

Online bullying is very common but very often goes unnoticed as they are not reported or the awareness in small towns is missing about what can be done in situations where bullying has occurred. Psychotherapist Padma Rewari says, “With the usage of Digital media, the numbers are increasing.  Digital bullying is seen more often in the vulnerable age group of 12 to 18. Teens are more often the target, as young people, especially teenagers, are at high risk because they are more likely to engage with social media and online platforms where bullying can occur. The need for social acceptance and peer approval can make the effects of cyberbullying particularly harmful”

Online bullying can adversely affect kids

The online bullying victims often go through a lot of stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, Suicidal thoughts, habit formations to forget the trauma and the extreme fear of the implications it may lead to in the future. The psychological impact of cyberbullying is profound and can affect a person’s mental health, emotional well-being, and overall quality of life.

Padma explains that the effects range from anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem to more serious consequences like suicidal thoughts and PTSD (Post-traumatic stress Disorder). Given the pervasive and often anonymous nature of online bullying, victims need to receive support and professional help to address these issues. Schools, parents, and society must also take steps to educate children and teenagers about how to protect themselves online and create supportive environments where they feel safe reporting cyberbullying.

Knife crime among UK boys

According to reports published in People, In England and Wales, the Office for National Statistics reported that the number of knife attacks has nearly doubled over the past decade. In March 2023, the Ministry of Justice convicted or cautioned — a formal warning typically given to people over the age of 10 for minor offenses — almost 18,500 knife-related crimes. Approximately 17.3% of those offenders were between the ages of 10 and 17.

“One of our aims was to ask, ‘What is happening to our young men these days, and what are the pressures they face from their peers, from the internet, and social media?” Stephen Graham, who co-created the drama series and played the accused teen’s father, told Tudum in March 2025.