CAVEAT – It is concerning to us that “some” are now politicizing and using the Netflix series “Adolescence” to push their narrative to ban cellphones and access to technology until the age of 16yrs. While the series raises important conversations that parents, caregivers, and educators should be having with youth about the influence of the manosphere and the dangers of misogyny, it is not an evidence-based case study for youth violent crime, and we explain why in this article.
A new fictional Netflix series, “Adolescence”, has ignited fresh discussions about youth, technology, and violence. Some are using the series, and the fact that its writer has recently joined the “Smartphone Free Childhood Pact” campaign, as justification for restricting youth and teens from accessing cellphones or the internet until they turn 16. Some are also buttressing this argument with Dr John Haidt’s book “The Anxious Generation” (1) However, while the series Adolescence certainly raises critical issues that parents, caregivers, and educators should be aware of and discussing with their kids (2)(3), we must be cautious about oversimplifying the complex factors behind teen violence and attributing them solely to cellphones, the internet, or social media.
First and foremost, some are forgetting that the Netflix series Adolescence is a fictional piece of entertainment art. While it may feel realistic and emotionally compelling, the events in the show should not be mistaken for a comprehensive or evidence-based understanding of youth violence. The depiction of a 13-year-old stabbing and murdering another teen, though shocking, is statistically an extremely rare occurrence in real life, something we will speak to later in this article. Using this isolated fiction based scenario in Adolescence to justify broad policy changes, such as banning youth from cellphones or digital spaces, is reactionary rather than research-driven.
While we acknowledge that the internet and social media can play a role in shaping “some” youth behaviour, the reality is that teen violence is a multifactorial public health concern. Other factors are equally, if not more, significant, some of those “easter egg” factors that many viewers of Adolescence may have missed in this Netflix series can include:
- Family violence and instability: A history of abuse, neglect, or exposure to violence at home is a well-documented risk factor for aggressive behaviour in youth. In the final episode the mother of Jamie, while speaking to the father says that Jamie has a “terrible temper, but so have you”. In the US a 2024 CDC study found that teen boys who reported histories of psychological and physical abuse by a parent, caregiver, or guardian were 2-3 times more likely to take a weapon to school and get into fights (4)
- Overwhelmed and understaffed schools: Many schools lack the necessary resources to identify and support students experiencing mental health crises.
- Inadequate mental health services: When appropriate interventions are unavailable, at-risk youth may go unnoticed or untreated. The good research shows us that youth that are at risk off-line are often the same group who are at risk online (5)
- A reactive criminal justice system: Too often, law enforcement is the only 24/7 resource left available to intervene. From a trauma-informed perspective, this is the worst possible option for many vulnerable youth.
Teen Violence, What Does The Good Research Say?
In the United States, according to Dr. Mike Males and FBI statistics, a teenage boy today is “70% less likely to to commit a murder and violence than his parents generation were” In 2023, the FBI reported that the rates of homicides committed by those under the age of 18 was down from 11% in 1993 (6) to 7% in 2023 (7)
From 1990 – 2023 the homicide rates committed by teen boys between 13-14yrs of age have dropped.
If cellphones and the internet are increasing the rates of violent acts in teens boys should we not have seen an increase in violence and homicide rates that coincide with the adoption of phones and teens since 2010?
What about teen girls being the targets of violent crimes and homicide by teen boys? Once again, according to FBI statistics (7), they reported 70% of offenders that murder teen girls are adults.
Here in Canada, we saw teen violent crime decreases by 22% from 2018-2020. (8) We have never had more than 100 youth arrested nationwide for homicide. However, since 2021 we have seen a spike, (especially with teens using a knife) of about 19% (8) – some examples (10)(11)(12)(13) It should be noted that according to the public record, none appear to be manosphere or incel driven as was depicted in the Netflix series Adolescence. In our review of public records we could only find two cases where a Canadian was arrested for a homicide that was attributed to an Incel doctrine – one was a teen case (14) and the second involved an adults (15)
It’s important to recognize that addressing teen violence requires a broad, evidence-based approach rather than simply restricting access to technology based on a fictional narrative. Blaming social media and the internet as the sole culprits ignores deeper systemic issues that demand urgent attention. If we fail to address these root causes, we risk implementing ineffective policies that create a false sense of security while leaving the real problems unresolved. Let’s focus on evidence, not Fiction, in addressing youth and teen violence!
The Netflix series Adolescence has undoubtedly sparked important discussions around the influence of the manosphere, misogyny, and youth violence. However, we must be cautious about conflating fiction with reality, particularly when it comes to shaping public policy. While some are using this series to push for bans on cellphones and internet access for youth under 16, the evidence simply does not support this as a solution to teen violence.
A critical look at crime data reveals that youth violence, particularly homicides committed by teenagers, has significantly declined over the past few decades, despite increased access to technology and social media. FBI statistics show that teenage boys today are far less likely to commit murder than their parent’s generation, and research consistently demonstrates that factors such as family instability, lack of mental health resources, and systemic social issues play a far more significant role in violent behaviour than access to digital devices.
Yes, we should absolutely be discussing the manosphere, misogyny, and Ideologically Motivated Violent Extremist (IMVE) Groups with our youth – something we agree Adolescence has sparked and something that we have been speaking to for the past couple of years here at the White Hatter. But reducing the issue of teen violence to a question of whether or not a young person has a smartphone or internet access oversimplifies a complex, multifaceted problem. If we truly care about keeping young people safe, our focus must be on addressing the root causes of violence, such as mental health support, family violence interventions, and social structures, not restricting access to technology based on fictional fear-driven narratives.
Public policy must be grounded in solid, evidence-based research, not emotional reactions to fictionalized portrayals of extreme cases. If we allow fear and sensationalism to dictate our decisions, we risk implementing ineffective measures that fail to address the real issues at hand. Instead, we should prioritize informed, balanced, and practical solutions that genuinely support youth and create a safer society for all.
Let’s not allow fiction to dictate public policy. Instead, let’s focus on real-world evidence-based solutions that truly support our youth when it comes to violence prevention.
Digital Food For Thought
The White Hatter
Facts Not Fear, Facts Not Emotions, Enlighten Not Frighten, Know Tech Not No Tech
References:
4/ https://www.cdc.gov/yrbs/data/index.html
5/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0747563215302211#:~:text=The%20hypothesis%20that%20those%20who,2007)%2C%20policy%20analysis%20(Byron)
6/ https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/statistical-briefing-book/data-analysis-tools/ezashr/victim-crosstabs
7/ https://www.justfacts.com/document/crime_united_states_2023_fbi.pdf
9/ https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/231129/cg-b003-eng.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com
10/ https://leaderpost.com/news/crime/two-teens-charged-with-second-degree-murder-in-boxing-day-homicide
11/ https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/opp-investigating-huron-county-death
13/ https://globalnews.ca/news/10944670/halifax-murder-trial-begins-ahmad-maher-al-marrach/
14/ https://macleans.ca/longforms/incel-terrorism/
15/ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/burlington-man-incel-threats-terrorism-1.7250000
