Massive overreaction to a TV show

[Kilroyonly]

I have watched Adolescence but don’t feel it was in any way relevant to my life nor my children It’s a very good show but it doesn’t resonate & I don’t understand the hype

laughed out loud at this one

That’s ok. Netflix didn’t make it just for you.

If you have children, it’s relevant.

If they have access to smart phones/internet, then it’s especially relevant.

If they don’t have access, then that’s already a conscious choice you have made based on the dangers of smart phones.

If they are around peers who use smart phones, then it’s still relevant.

I’m astonished that anyone finds ot remotely relevant

”Astonished” when smartphone use is probably the most highly discussed and relevant topic of parenting and child welfare in the last 5yrs? Okay sure, astonishing 🙄

And your children would absolutely only tell you the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth…
whether you/they think it’s relevant to them now or not, I’d try not be too blinkered

Exactly what my teacher friends are saying.

They are praising the show, whilst parents are acting like it is completely removed from reality. It's interesting.

How do you know it’s not relevant to your children? Do you know everything they look at online? I reckon you’d be surprised, and that’s the whole point of it really.

It's not relevant to your life until it is.

Wow, what odd comments OP! Even my 16 yo understands why it is relevant, we had an extremely interesting conversation about it and about Andrew Tate/his message. He discussed with me how he felt he had a lot of free access to the Internet but that he was lucky he wasn't the sort of person to get involved (mostly) in stuff he shouldn't but that he can really understand how some of the more vulnerable kids can get pulled in. He definitely feels his DC will have a lot more restrictions on their access.

I wonder if he understands slightly more as he works in an area where he has had to do training around how vulnerable people can get involved in extremist activity. Read about Andrew Ibrahim, it is a prime example of how people can get caught up with things online. I just think it is way easier that some people think, and being on denial that it could never happen to people you know is a recipe for disaster potentially.

I watched it with my 11 year old son and it was quite eye opening that he knew things I didn’t regarding what different coloured emojis are supposed to mean etc. It has led to some interesting conversations that I wasn’t expecting until he was a bit older but I think it’s good that it’s opened up the discussion.

It amazes me that teenage DC don't connect to it at all though, they must have some understanding of what happens on the Internet and situations where friends/acquaintances have been in vulnerable positions. I have a lot of pride in my DC and how they have a good understanding of others/others situations, its an important part of life to understand what goes on around you, to be waltzing round not having a clue about what is going on in the world is shocking to me.

It may not be relevant - either because your children are older like mine (32/35/38) or have no children.

It may not be relevant because your children have no social media accounts and no interactions with any other children. Which would be odd.

It may be that your children manage to pass through their adolescent years uneventfully. Which would be lucky and rare.

It maybe that you are in for a shock later. I hope not.

The thing is that this was an ordinary family, 2 children doing ok at school, nothing to write home about. But then it happened, things had been bubbling under unknown to the, supportive, and loving parents.

Did you know the significance about different coloured heart emojis?

It's something that you, everyone, should know about as you don't know when aspects of your life, your family, are about to hit the fan. Supporting your children has just got a lot harder.

What a sheltered life you must live then OP, if none of the issues in the play are relevant. Have you never felt uncomfortable by a male invading your space? Have you never known a male have a burst of temper? Have you never had to keep calm to keep someone happy? Have your kids never sent a text with emojis you don’t understand?
all of these are issues raised alongside the obvious.

I don't have teenagers, but widespread changes in young people affect us all. Children are the future and if their attitudes and behaviour are messed up then all of us will be worse off.

I don't have Netflix, but I am sick of the hype for this show, they were even advertising it here on MN. The subject matter is very dark, even if I had Netflix I would give it a miss.

Even if your own children are not interested in or influenced by online media. their peers are. How can that not be relevant?

I'm a teacher (relevant only as pp's have mentioned teacher friends etc) - haven't seen it, don't know what its about, TV drama I assume, not sure what Baby Reindeer is, sounds like something tedious from Christmas? and Andrew Tate, heard the name, no idea what he does either.

All or none could be relevant to me, or indeed not.

I left the UK over 20 years ago. I found it had no relevance to me, even when my kids were in school.
However, by the reactions of friends in the UK I can see it is extremely relevant to a lot of them and I find that extremely sad and worrying.

@YourAzureEagle If you are a teacher you should be aware of Andrew Tate and his ilk as he is a danger to children. Have you not had INSET on online dangers?

This.

And do you understand everything they look at on line. The nuances.

Years ago when my children were this sort of age we had one computer, it lived downstairs in public.

Their bedrooms were a haven, Harry Potter, starters figures but a haven.

Now many children take the world to bed with them - their mobiles.

Parents can take broadly one of 2 approaches

-no mobiles, no social media. Problem solved - except it isn't because their friends, acquaintances and enemies will be on it.

allow mobiles but under some degree of supervision and teaching them how to navigate a world with social media. Give them the tools, resilience.

Of course your kids are going to say that. How much scrutiny of their Internet access to you have?

To be fair inset is a time to crack on with lesson planning and pondering experiments, what's for lunch etc. - there are many things that are a danger to children, and adults too for that matter, the world, is and always has been, somewhat dangerous to those creatures, us included, that inhabit it - I teach physics, so long as they make it out of the lab in one piece and with more scientific knowledge than they came in with, my work is done!

I mean, I watched Blue Planet and I didn’t feel it was irrelevant just because I’m not a dolphin….

Have you been living under a rock?

No, but mainly in the physics department, which hasn't changed that much in 40 years since I was a pupil there and the 40 before that! 😀

My point is just that TV shows, internet stuff etc, not everyone watches it, not everyone finds it relevant to watch, even if the subject matter may be relevant.