New Netflix series 'Adolescence' sparks safety debate

The new Netflix series 'Adolescence' has sparked discussions about teenage mental health and digital safety.

The series follows a 13-year-old boy who faces a cyberbullying ordeal and becomes immersed in toxic online communities. As the narrative progresses, he comes under investigation for the alleged murder of a schoolmate. Themes explored include youth violence, bullying, and social media's impact on young people.

According to Kaspersky, the questions raised by 'Adolescence' highlight the need for understanding how parents can support and safeguard children and teens online. This involves not only controlling access but also rebuilding trust and digital literacy.

Research by Kaspersky indicates that 61% of children receive their first digital device between the ages of eight and 12. While digital tools can boost learning and creativity, there is often a lack of structured guidance on how to navigate the online world safely. This leads children to encounter potentially harmful content well before they are equipped to process such experiences critically.

Cyberbullying represents one of the most prevalent digital threats that affect children and teenagers today. It differs from traditional bullying as it occurs on devices and platforms that adolescents use daily. Parents might struggle to detect cyberbullying because it can happen in private chats, closed groups, or through temporary content formats like Stories, enabling it to happen persistently and silently.

When cyberbullying and digital harassment remain unresolved, they can drive young people towards digital isolation. This scenario is exemplified in 'Adolescence' where the protagonist becomes entangled in toxic online subcultures seeking acceptance. Such environments, sometimes difficult for parents to monitor, reinforce the importance of encouraging teens to converse openly about negative online experiences.

Kaspersky emphasises the need for an open dialogue between parents and children. "What Adolescence gets painfully right is that danger doesn't always look like malware or hacking. Sometimes, it's a slow erosion of trust, when a child feels safer confiding in anonymous forums rather than their own family. While some online platforms offer support, others exploit that silence, normalizing harmful behavior or encouraging secrecy. That's why digital safety at home can't rely on monitoring alone; it has to be built on open dialogue, where teens know they can talk about what they're experiencing online without fear or judgment," says Andrey Sidenko, Privacy Expert at Kaspersky.

While open dialogue is essential, Kaspersky suggests complementing it with parental control applications. These tools provide real-time insights and alerts that help parents remain informed about their children's online activities without veering into digital surveillance.

As the series 'Adolescence' raises awareness of digital risks, researchers have found phishing pages that exploit its popularity. These sites, which offer free downloads of episodes, instead distribute malware, illustrating how teenagers' interest in popular culture can be weaponised against them.

Kaspersky recommends several strategies to protect children online, including keeping abreast of the latest threats and maintaining stringent guidelines on internet use. They also advise using solutions such as Kaspersky Safe Kids to establish healthy digital habits and protect children from harmful content, while balancing screen time and tracking physical location.