Adolescence: British prime minister warns of violence and online radicalization

Adolescence: British prime minister warns of violence and online radicalization

Großbritannien, Vereinigtes Königreich - The Netflix series "Adolescence" caused a sensation in Great Britain. The story revolves around the fictional case of 13-year-old Jamie, who stabs his classmate Katie. This dramatic story illuminates a troubling increase in violence among young men in British society. The focus is on the British school system and the numerous challenges with which teachers and students are confronted, but the series is also described as pedagogical and clichéd. Critics emphasize that the plot and the narrative style, which does not require cuts, are not very original and a theatrical gimmick.

In the last episodes of the series, the psychosocial reasons for Jamie's act are examined in more detail. His aversion to women and the influence of the so-called "manosphere", an online community that often propagates women's-hostile views, is discussed. Jamie's parents are shown in a therapy session in which they relieve each other and ultimately push responsibility for the act on the computer, which indicates a problematic passage of guilt.

political reactions

The British Prime Minister Keir Strander recommended the series in schools and referred to it as "documentation". In a newspaper interview, he expressed his concern about the online radicalization of young men and emphasized that many parents and specialists recognize a serious problem with the challenges for boys and young men. Strong is of the opinion that these topics must be addressed.

His statements are supported by Gareth Southgate, the former English national soccer coach, who warns that many young people feel isolated and toxic influencers are exposed to the Internet. "Adolescence" therefore not only addresses individual radicalization, but also the social prerequisites that lead to it.

online radicalization as a social problem

The relevance of the series is particularly reinforced by the context of online radicalization. According to the bpb , extremist actors specifically use the Internet for recruitment and propaganda. Digital communication has integrated into the everyday life of young people, which makes the Internet a scene for radicalization processes. This development has led to more and more young people come into contact with extremist content via online platforms.

The propaganda is often adapted to current social debates to gain popularity and win new supporters. Various media formats are used that aim at the emotional address of young people. Social media in particular are used to make first contacts. The discussion about the dangers that emerges from this digital radicalization is more current than ever.