The British miniseries Adolescence, available on Netflix, has sparked widespread debate for its raw and realistic portrayal of the problems of adolescence in the digital age. Topics covered include hate speech, the symbolic use of emoticons, the difficulties faced by today’s teenagers, the 80/20 theory and incel culture.
The plot as a pretext for social analysis
The series Adolescence, recently released on Netflix, has climbed the charts in recent days, not only for its daring stylistic choice – each episode is shot in a single take – but above all for its in-depth analysis of the complex issues facing teenagers in the digital age.
At the centre of the narrative is Jamie Miller, a thirteen-year-old boy accused of murder.
The arrest scene that opens the series is particularly intense: law enforcement officers storm Jamie’s house in an armed raid, creating a climate of terror and confusion. This portrayal has been criticised for its realism and for the reflection it provokes on the role of institutions in dealing with cases involving minors.
However, the series moves away from the classic investigative format and focuses on exploring the social and cultural context that led a young man to commit such an extreme act. Jamie’s story is used as an excuse to explore timely and complex issues such as online bullying, digital radicalisation and incel culture.
The hidden language of emoticons
One of the most surprising aspects of the series is the revelation of the hidden meaning behind some seemingly innocuous emoticons. In a pivotal scene, Inspector Luke Bascome’s son sympathises with his father when he sees his investigations focusing on aspects that he, as an adult, is unaware of; he explains to his father how symbols such as the red pill, dynamite, the number ‘100’ and even beans are used as codes within the incel community to communicate their membership and misogynistic ideologies. This revelation highlights the generation gap in understanding young people’s digital language and the urgent need to educate adults about these new codes of communication.
Incel culture and the 80/20 theory
The series looks at incel culture, an acronym for ‘involuntary celibate’, which refers to men who feel they have been denied the right to sexual and emotional relationships. These individuals often develop a deep resentment towards women, blaming them for their condition. A central concept in this ideology is the ’80/20 theory’, according to which 80% of women are only attracted to 20% of men, leaving the remaining 80% excluded and frustrated. This theory, based on a distortion of the Pareto principle, fuels feelings of injustice and hatred, contributing to the radicalisation of young people like Jamie.
Hate speech and teenage silence
The series highlights the prevalence of hate speech among young people and their tendency not to respond to offensive content. According to the 2018 EU Kids Online survey, 31% of young people aged 11-17 have seen hate messages or offensive comments of a racist nature online, but 58% of them did not intervene to stop the violence. This silence can be attributed to several factors, including fear of reprisals, indifference or a lack of appropriate tools to deal with these situations. Recently, a systematic review published in Frontiers in Psychology analysed 18 studies conducted between 2015 and 2021, focusing on young people aged between 5 and 21. The results show that exposure to hate speech is more common than victimisation or active participation, with exposure rates ranging from 26% to 36% among adolescents in different national contexts.
The faults of the algorithm
Several studies have shown that social media algorithms can contribute to the radicalisation of young people. A report published in the UK found that algorithms amplify misogynistic content, such as the objectification and discrediting of women, which has a negative impact on young people’s mental health.
In addition, Kaitlyn Regehr of UCL Information Studies has found that algorithmic processes on platforms such as TikTok exploit the vulnerability of young people by gamifying harmful content and normalising dangerous views among teenagers.
The responsibility of adults
Jack Thorne, screenwriter for the series, emphasises that Jamie is not just a product of the manosphere, but also of absent parents, a disengaged school and a society that has failed to intervene. This message highlights the importance of strong and present social support to prevent drift towards dangerous ideologies.
In response to these phenomena, some school programmes include digital and emotional education modules to help young people recognise and combat hate speech. In Norway, for example, a compulsory course on ‘digital citizenship skills’ has been introduced, covering topics such as online responsibility, respect for diversity and the deconstruction of gender stereotypes.
However, Norway is one of the few European countries that assesses students’ digital skills at all levels of education. In particular, digital literacy is considered an interdisciplinary subject at primary school level, while at lower and upper secondary level Norwegian students are assessed both through specific technology tests and through questions included in maths and science tests.
UNESCO is also promoting global guidelines for responsible digital education, recommending the inclusion of media literacy in curricula from primary school onwards.
Adolescence is part of a cultural context in which storytelling can be a powerful tool to raise awareness of complex issues such as hate speech and youth radicalisation. Through intense and immersive storytelling, the series invites us to look beyond appearances, understand hidden signs and intervene in time to support young people on their journey to adulthood.
