British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with the series creators of Netflix’s "Adolescence" in London on Monday, not only praising the series “as a father” but announcing that the gripping crime drama is now a part of the education curriculum for all UK secondary students.
The Prime Minister hosted the adolescent safety roundtable discussion at 10 Downing Street, attended by Adolescence co-writer Jack Thorne and producer Jo Johnson, several British charities, and a handful of British teens who shared their own similar online experiences.
The discussion coincides with Netflix announcing that the British mini-series – about a 13-year-old boy who is accused of murdering his female classmate – has been made free to watch for all secondary schools offered through the Into Film+ school streaming platform.
A parent himself, Starmer called the show “groundbreaking,” and praised Netflix for offering free access to the series for students across the UK, posting about it on X.
“As a father, watching Adolescence with my teenage son and daughter hit home hard. We all need to be having these conversations more,” Starmer said.
“I've backed Netflix's plan to show the series for free in schools across the country, so as many young people as possible can see it.”
As a father, watching Adolescence with my teenage son and daughter hit home hard.
undefined Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) March 31, 2025
We all need to be having these conversations more.
I've backed Netflix's plan to show the series for free in schools across the country, so as many young people as possible can see it.
Using the issues depicted in Adolscence series as a jumping-off point, the roundtable discussed the perils of online radicalization, societal misogyny, and its impact on young people. Starmer said having "open conversations" with our children is "vital to properly support them in navigating contemporary challenges and dealing with malign influences.”
Adolesence's Thorne told the group that he and co-writer Stephen Graham made the show to "provoke a conversation."
“We wanted to pose the question - how do we help stop this growing crisis? So to have the opportunity to take this into schools is beyond our expectations. We hope it’ll lead to teachers talking to the students, but what we really hope is it’ll lead to students talking amongst themselves," Thorne said.
The roundtable also focused on ways the government might collaborate with the initiative to ensure young people have the right tools, support, and environment to learn about healthy relationships, the Prime Minister's office said, adding that the Government is committed to the Online Safety Act and will not hesitate to strengthen the law further where necessary.
Starmer further spoke about his own experiences witnessing “the devastation that misogyny and violence leave behind” while serving as the UK’s Director of Public Prosecutions.
“The challenges raised by Adolescence aren't something we can simply legislate for — if I could pull a lever to solve it, I would. It's only by listening and learning from the experiences of young people and charities that we can tackle this. That's what I've been doing today,” the Prime Minister said in another X post.
The challenges raised by Adolescence aren't something we can simply legislate for — if I could pull a lever to solve it, I would.
undefined Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) March 31, 2025
It's only by listening and learning from the experiences of young people and charities that we can tackle this.
That's what I've been doing today. pic.twitter.com/bU5ocwpa1T
The charities who participated in Monday's roundtable included the NSPCC, Movember, Beyond Quality, Children’s Society, and the Tender charity, which further provided resources and guides for parents, caregivers, and teachers on the issues explored in the series.
“It’s an important initiative to encourage as many pupils as possible to watch the show. As I see from my own children, openly talking about changes in how they communicate, the content they’re seeing, and exploring the conversations they’re having with their peers is vital,” Starmer said.
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