Parents share thoughts on 'sobering' Netflix show

Parents in the Channel Islands have expressed a need to "come together" after watching the four-part Netflix series Adolescence.

Vicky O'Neil, from Jersey, has a 10-year-old son and said she found the show "sobering".

Adolescence follows the family of a 13-year-old boy arrested for killing a female classmate and tackles themes of bullying, incel (involuntary celibacy) culture, and navigating social media as a young person.

Ms O'Neil said the show "reiterates this safeguarding crisis that we're having".

She said: "It's quite easy I think sometimes to say 'oh just don't give your child the phone', but I know from experience that our very restrictive approach to technology resulted in social exclusion for one of our children."

She added she wanted to start talking about it and to try and do something as a community.

Ms O'Neil said: "We're seeing how deeply entrenched misogyny...is becoming with our boys and I think we should be really, really alarmed by this.

"I'd just love us to start talking about it, accept there's no easy answer and try and do something".

She said schools should support parents who did not want their kids to have smart phones at an early age.

Adolescence – which stars Graham as dad Eddie and Owen Cooper as Jamie – was the most-watched show on Netflix around the world in the days after its release last week.

Sally Rochester, from Guernsey, who has children aged 14 and 16 said she found the final episode of the show "harrowing".

She said: "As parents we find ourselves wanting to protect our children but letting these devices into their lives for various understandable reasons puts them at some extraordinary risk."

Constable Richard Vibert, minister for children and families in Jersey, was questioned about online safety in a States Assembly meeting in February.

He directed people to the Government of Jersey website, which he said featured practical advice and guidance for parents, including how to talk to children about online risks; parental controls, and screen time.

Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook. Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to [email protected].