Digital Skills Education

What Netflix’s Adolescence can teach parents about online safety

Netflix’s drama series Adolescence follows a shocking story – Jamie, a 13-year-old boy from an ordinary family, is arrested for murdering a classmate. But for many parents, the show is a wake-up call about the dangers today’s teenagers face online.​

While Adolescence is fictional, its themes are all-too-real: constant online pressure, cyber bullying, radicalisation, and parents struggling to keep up with it all. Each plays a part in the tragic event that sets the story in motion. 

I’m not an expert in online radicalisation or cyber bullying, but I do teach people how to use the security and safety features on their phones. I hope this advice can help parents, caregivers, and educators protect young people online.

Helping teenagers cope with online pressures

Adolescence shows how growing up online can feel like living in a pressure cooker. The teenagers in the show are bombarded with content and social comparisons they aren’t emotionally ready to handle. They’re never truly “off the clock” – constantly connected and measuring themselves against unrealistic standards.

You can help teens cut down on the negative effects of screen time by showing them how to use the features on their phones that give their brains a break. On iPhones, the Screen Time feature lets you block apps and notifications during certain hours, or set limits on how much time is spent on specific apps and websites. Android phones offer a similar tool called App Limits.

• Watch: How to set App Limits on iPhone iOS
• Watch: How to set App Timers on Android

Blocking cyber bullies and online cruelty

When I was growing up, if you had a problem with someone, you sorted it out in the playground and then went home and forgot about it. But now, social media makes that impossible.
— Philip Barantini, Director of Adolescence

Let your child know they can always come to you if they feel bullied, threatened, or upset by something online. Reassure them that you’ll work through it together. Whether it’s blocking the bully, reporting their behavior, or involving the school, they don’t have to handle it alone.

Spend time together reviewing the privacy and safety settings on your child’s apps and games.

Show them how to:

• Make their accounts private
• Block or mute people who are bothering them
• Report abusive messages or content

Instagram – Instagram Safety Center
TikTok – TikTok Safety Center
Snapchat – Snapchat Family Center
YouTube – YouTube Safety Center
Facebook – Facebook Safety Center
Discord – Discord Parent Hub
Twitch – Twitch Safety Center
WhatsApp – WhatsApp Safety and Security

Toxic communities and online radicalisation

In Adolescence a seemingly sweet, normal boy gets sucked into the “manosphere” – a network of misogynistic online groups and influencers. Jamie, feeling hurt and rejected, stumbles into toxic content that validates his anger and pain. 

While internet filters aren’t foolproof, they can at least block some known hate sites or extreme content. Here’s how you can set up internet filters:

• iPhone: Use Screen Time settings to limit web content. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Content Restrictions, then choose Web Content to block adult sites or only allow specific websites.
• Android: Use Google Family Link to manage filters and block unwanted content. Install the app on your device and your child’s device, then set content filters through the Controls and Filters section.

Understanding their life online

Perhaps the most heartbreaking aspect of Adolescence is how Jamie’s loving parents are blindsided by what happened. They truly thought their son was “safe” in his room on the computer – after all, he was home and not out on the streets.​

Many parents simply don’t know what their children are really doing online. There’s often a glaring gap between a parent’s perception and reality. Make an effort to learn about the apps, games, and websites your kids use. Even if Fortnite or TikTok doesn’t interest you, showing curiosity builds trust. 

For younger children, parental control tools can provide weekly reports on how they’re using their phones. Instagram also has a feature that gives parents insight into who their children are chatting with. While you can’t read their actual messages, it shows who they’ve messaged in the past seven days.

• Learn about parental controls on iPhone
• Google’s parental controls – Google Safety Centre
• Teen Accounts: Protections for Teens, Peace of Mind for Parents

Keep connected

Adolescence is a powerful reminder that keeping kids safe online isn’t just about setting rules or filters – it’s about staying connected to their world. Technology can help, but it’s no substitute for your support and understanding.