Guide 2: Digital Literacy and Online Influence
Introduction
Netflix’s Adolescence has sparked widespread conversations about how to protect kids from the toxic corners of the internet. Critics and experts have noted how timely Adolescence is. Its launch coincided with public debates about male violence in the UK, including a case where a young man consumed Andrew Tate’s content online just hours before murdering his ex-girlfriend and her family. The series doesn’t scapegoat any single influencer or factor for Jamie’s actions; instead, it highlights a perfect storm of influences. Thorne deliberately avoided pinning blame on one person (even though the show does reference real figures like Tate) because he wanted to show “just how enticing radicalization can be” in general. In other words, Adolescence illustrates that it’s not just “bad kids” or one bad website, it’s a whole environment that can gradually lure vulnerable young boys and men into hate.
Importantly, the creators also emphasize that Jamie’s story is not inevitable. Plenty of other boys experience the same online content and difficult feelings but do not end up committing violence. This means there are factors, family support, critical thinking skills, empathy, that can make a difference. As Jack Thorne told Wired, he understands how easily kids can get lured into incel ideology. In researching the show, Thorne “went very, very deep” into these online communities, even to places he “wish [he] hadn’t gone”, all to authentically understand their pull. The end result is a story that feels frighteningly real but also invites us to consider solutions. Thorne believes combating this problem requires everyone to get involved: “It takes a village… If we’re going to change the culture… we need everyone to lean into this problem to save these kids, to stop boys harming girls. It takes us all to do something”.
This three-part guide will help you continue that conversation at home. By understanding the show’s themes and using the strategies and talking points provided, you can be part of that village Thorne mentions, the collective effort to raise healthy, compassionate boys (and girls) in the digital age. You’ll find definitions of key terms (so you can speak the same language as your teen), reflection questions to ponder your own views, and practical conversation starters to engage your child. Through ongoing dialogue, you can help your tween/teen critically evaluate what they see online, process their emotions in healthy ways, and build resilience against hateful influences.
In Adolescence, Jamie’s descent into radical ideology doesn’t start with violence, it starts with videos. Social media becomes his teacher, his social group, and ultimately, his radicalizer. It happens quietly, invisibly, right under the nose of a loving family. This chilling portrayal isn’t far from real life: today’s kids are growing up on platforms designed to pull them in, feed them outrage, and shape their worldview before they’ve even fully formed their identity.
As the second guide in this series, it is designed to help caregivers build media literacy in their tweens and teens. It will help you understand how online platforms work, what kinds of content your child might be exposed to, and how to talk with them about it. We believe media literacy is a form of emotional armor, it won’t block out all the bad, but it can empower your child to recognize manipulation, question messages, and make better choices online. Using Adolescence as a conversation starter, this guide will help you meet your child where they are: in the scroll.
What Is Media Literacy and Why It’s Essential
What is media literacy? It’s the skill of understanding and critically evaluating the media we consume, everything from TikTok videos and YouTube streams to news articles and TV shows. For today’s tweens and teens, media literacy is as essential as learning to read. Kids are constantly online, and unlike TV or books, their feeds are personalized, and algorithm driven. This means two things: (1) They could be seeing very different content from what adults see, and (2) The platforms are designed to keep them engaged, often by showing more extreme or emotionally charged material over time. Adolescence lays bare how Jamie was fed a steady diet of toxic content without his parents even knowing. In one scene, a detective explains that Jamie likely got into “the involuntary celibate [incel] stuff… the Andrew Tate [videos]”, illustrating that certain algorithms may have flooded his screen with misogynistic influencers.
Why it matters: If a teenager watches one angry rant about “boys being left behind” or “how to get revenge on girls,” social media algorithms might recommend dozens more just like it. This can create an echo chamber where the teen hears the same harmful messages repeated until they seem “normal.” As Harper’s Bazaar noted, aggressive algorithms push out such content unfettered, luring young people further down rabbit holes, and the deeper they go, the harder it is to bring them back to reality.
Media literacy helps break that spell. It teaches our kids (and us) to ask: Who made this video or post? What is their goal? Are they trying to inform me or provoke me? Kids who can ask these questions are less likely to accept extreme content at face value.
How to build media literacy:
First, get familiar with the platforms your child uses. If they love YouTube or TikTok, spend some time on those apps yourself. (As expert advice from our youth counsellors suggests, “…download and become familiar with the apps and sites teens are on, so they feel a little less foreign and scary”. You don’t have to monitor every video they watch, but understanding how these platforms work (like the “For You” algorithm on TikTok or YouTube’s recommendation system) will help you guide them.
Next, normalize talking about what you each see online. Make it a two-way street: share a funny or interesting thing you saw and ask them to share something they watched today. Show curiosity, not immediate judgement, about their media. If they mention a controversial figure or trend, ask what they think about it instead of lecturing right away. For example, “Hmm, I heard about Andrew Tate. Some people say he has harmful views. What’s your take on him?” This invites your tween/teen to think critically and voice their own thoughts, rather than feeling like they’re being quizzed or scolded.
Also, teach them about red flags in media: sensational titles (“Women HATE you?! Here’s why”), one-sided arguments with no evidence, or creators who seem more interested in selling a product or a lifestyle than having an honest discussion. Encourage your child to verify shocking claims by checking other sources (you can do this together as an exercise). Remind them that just because something has a lot of views doesn’t make it true. Together, you could look up a reputable source that debunks common myths (for instance, the “80/20 rule” mentioned earlier is a debunked myth that people’s attractions are varied and can’t be boiled down to a sexist statistic). There are also educational resources, like the Australian government’s “Algorithm of Disrespect” project, which illustrate how hateful content can spread online. Such tools can be eye-opening for teens who think “it’s just how the internet is.”
Conversation Starters for Media Literacy:
- “I saw a video today that made me wonder if it was true. Do you ever see things on YouTube/TikTok that you feel unsure about? How do you decide what to believe?”
- “What kind of YouTube or TikTok channels do you watch the most? What do you like about them? Do you feel like they ever try to convince you of something, like an opinion or a trend?”
- “Have you noticed how the app suggests videos to you? Like, if you watch one gaming video, you get tons more? Why do you think the app does that? Do you think seeing a lot of the same kind of content affects what you think about it?”
- “Let’s try something: can you show me one of the videos you found interesting recently (good or bad)? I’d love to see what you’re into and hear what you think about it.” (Be prepared to listen calmly and non-judgmentally!)
Reflection Questions for Caregivers:
- “How comfortable am I with technology and social media? Do I mostly fear it, or do I understand some of its appeal? What’s one step I can take to become more tech-aware (like exploring a platform or reading up on it) so I can relate better to my child’s online world?”
- “Do I tend to trust information easily if it fits my own beliefs (for example, news on Facebook or opinions on Twitter)? How can I model good media habits, maybe by double-checking stories or admitting when I’m not sure something is true, so my child sees that behaviour?”
- “Have I talked to my child about why some people make extreme content? (For instance, to get views, to sell something, to persuade politically.) Could that be a useful discussion to demystify what they see online?”
Try this activity: Sit down with your teen and together, pick a short online video or post that’s trending (it could be anything from a viral challenge to a rant about a social issue). Go through a simple media literacy checklist together. Ask: Who is behind this content (an individual? an organization)? What is the main message? Is it factual, opinion, or satire? What emotions did it stir in you (anger, excitement, fear)? Why might the content creator want you to feel that way? This exercise isn’t a quiz for your teen; do it as well with something you’ve seen, so they see it’s a life skill, not homework. By practicing this in a low-stakes context, your child will be better prepared when they encounter more dangerous content. They’ll have that little voice in their head asking, “Wait, what’s really going on here?”, and that can make a big difference.
Conclusion
Media literacy is one of the most important life skills for today’s kids. The goal isn’t to shield them from everything online, it’s to equip them to question, reflect, and resist harmful messages. You don’t have to be a tech expert to support your teen. You just have to stay curious, ask good questions, and keep the lines of communication open. By building these skills together, you’re helping your child become a thoughtful digital citizen, and that matters more now than ever.