𝑯𝑶𝑾 "𝑨𝑫𝑶𝑳𝑬𝑺𝑪𝑬𝑵𝑪𝑬" 𝑴𝑨𝑺𝑻𝑬𝑹𝑭𝑼𝑳𝑳𝒀 𝑬𝑿𝑷𝑳𝑶𝑹𝑬𝑺 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑫𝑨𝑵𝑮𝑬𝑹 𝑶𝑭 𝑻𝑶𝑿𝑰𝑪 𝑴𝑨𝑺𝑪𝑼𝑳𝑰𝑵𝑰𝑻𝒀 𝑨𝑵𝑫 𝑰𝑻𝑺 𝑺𝑶𝑪𝑰𝑨𝑳 𝑴𝑬𝑫𝑰𝑨 𝑷𝑹𝑬𝑺𝑬𝑵𝑪𝑬

Netflix

The new show on Netflix—Adolescence, is a poignant exploration of teenage years, focusing on the lives of the people around the 13-year-old boy, Jamie Miller, who's accused of murdering a schoolmate. The charges against Jamie force his parents to confront every parent's worst nightmare.

The show only has four episodes, with 1-hour duration for each episode—which I think the show could have benefited from editing or cutting down the runtime instead of dragging the whole show to an extent. Regardless, the show has showcased some of the most critical and relevant issues that this generation is currently facing today—social media, bullying, and toxic masculinity. This is not a "whodunit" show but a "whodunit," an exploration of the murder's motivation and what led to it happening. 

From a technical standpoint, “Adolescence” is a masterclass. The show was one continuous shot with seamless transitions. The fluid camera work invites viewers into their world, making them feel as though they are part of the unfolding drama. “Adolescence” offers a different perspective in storytelling, especially for a miniseries. Each episode has a different point of view and perspective, highlighting different themes. 

Netflix

At its core, the show focuses on the personal impact of social media and cyberbullying. The show carefully navigated the ever-growing effect of social media on teenagers's mental health, illustrating how platforms meant to connect people can also breed isolation and cruelty. Cyberbullying is also portrayed with such authenticity that it is impossible to ignore the devastating effects it has on Jamie's sense of self-worth. While the show does not shy away from the grim reality of these issues, it also makes a crucial point about the difficulty of escaping this modern web.

One significant element of the show that stood out for me is how they slowly uncover the toxic masculinity underneath. From his family to his friends, the series highlights the damaging forces of traditional gender roles and expectations that pressured Jamie into conforming to an ideal of masculinity that feels foreign to him—the misogynist, "alpha male," and "incel." The show does not highlight the villainous act of Jamie, but the reason behind it. When you look online, we see a lot of "alpha males" (or, in this case, Andrew Tate) talking about how to treat women, what men should be like, and the misogynistic content that is consuming most teenagers nowadays. The show depicts how some social media influencers perpetuate harmful stereotypes that dictate what it means to "be a man." 

Remember that social media does not operate in isolation; it intersects with real-life social interactions among peers. When children see their friends engaging with toxic content or adopting toxic behaviors, they may feel compelled to conform to those norms to fit in. This peer reinforcement can amplify the impact of toxic masculinity as children seek acceptance in environments that prioritize aggression and emotional detachment. The impact of toxic masculinity on teenagers shaped by social media content is both significant and concerning as it influences their identity, behaviors, relationships, and mental health.