Scott Lyons, district secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), has raised alarms regarding the concerning themes presented in the Netflix series “Adolescence,” emphasising that the issues presented in the show may often originate within family settings. The series, directed by actor Stephen Graham, revolves around a teenage boy accused of murdering a young girl, and it delves into the troubling area of youth radicalisation, particularly that influenced by ‘incel culture’, the ‘manosphere’, and pervasive online misogyny.

In his comments, Lyons pointed out that “these views are increasingly appearing openly on social media,” echoing the sentiments of many educators who have noted a rise in misogynistic attitudes among younger generations. The content shared by social media influencers, particularly Andrew Tate—a notorious British-American figure—has played a significant role in propagating these views. According to reports, Tate’s videos on TikTok have amassed over 11.6 billion views.

A recent NEU survey has highlighted the alarming prevalence of violence faced by female educators in Norfolk, revealing that nine out of ten female teachers have either been victims of violence or witnessed it against colleagues. This data suggests a broader trend of male pupils disproportionately targeting female teaching staff, often with sexual connotations. Concurrently, statistics from Norfolk Police indicate that approximately one-third of suspects accused of sexual offences last year were under the age of 18, with children as young as primary school age comprising a significant portion of these suspects.

In addressing the issue, Mr Lyons contended that parents often find it challenging to accept that their children may be involved in abusive behaviour. “Figures like Andrew Tate are often blamed but this behaviour is also being learned at home,” he remarked. He further expressed concerns about the alienation of children from their parents, citing increased pressures on families as parents work longer hours, leading to a loss of awareness about their children’s lives.

Lyons described troubling incidents in local schools, such as where a group of boys intimidated a female teacher, and noted resistance from parents who could not fathom their children engaging in such behaviour. He stated, “In some, it is complicitly accepted that boys can make comments, and schools are not challenging this behaviour enough,” adding that school authorities often hesitate to act out of fear of backlash from parents.

Despite initiatives such as the prohibition of mobile phones during school hours, Lyons advocated for greater parental involvement in children’s online activities. He suggested, “Parents need to monitor what children are doing online at home,” underlining the need for increased communication and engagement between parents and children about their digital interactions.

Norfolk’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Sarah Taylor, acknowledged the seriousness of these issues, noting that there has been insufficient focus on the pressures faced by boys and young men, suggesting that programmes like the Bystander Intervention Programme—designed to educate children about sexual violence—might not fully tackle the underlying problems. Taylor stated, “There has clearly not been enough attention paid to the different pressures on boys and young men for many years now.”

“Adolescence” serves as a significant exploration of the incel community’s influence on youth violence, with its main character, Jamie, being depicted as a product of such troubling ideologies. The manosphere, a network of online communities fostering harmful notions of masculinity, has continued to infiltrate mainstream social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, thus widening its reach and impact on young minds.

Source: Noah Wire Services