Equation’s Statement on Netflix Adolescence March 2025

Netflix’ Adolescence shines a much-needed spotlight on the roots and consequences of rising Incel culture. While online influencers preying on the insecurities of young men has an undeniable part to play, the show highlights how men’s violence towards women and girls is not purely an issue of childhoods spent online and that offline solutions are also vital. The series is a call for us all to ask, ‘What can I do?’ to better understand and support young people today, with a focus on schools, parents and society at large.

Schools

The show demonstrated brilliantly how schools need to be better resourced. Since 2010, Equation has developed and delivered our own healthy relationships sessions in schools across Nottinghamshire through The Great Project, though our work in schools dates back to the early 2000s.

It’s through this experience that we know that quality specialist healthy relationships education (RSE) has an integral role to play, and we address this with a whole school approach – right from pupils to teaching staff. However, it needs further embedding into the curriculum with schools and colleges better supported to deliver effective standards of RSE, and to respond to all issues being experienced by their students.

Parents

Parents, of course, have a key role to play. It’s not possible to keep tabs on everything our children see and do online, however, some things can help. Setting boundaries around time spent online, especially when children are alone. Consider advocating for the parent pact, a commitment to giving children a smartphone-free childhood. Finally, we know that getting our children to speak openly can be a challenge, so tapping into online resources like the NSPCC’s guides for parents and this guide to use of emojis in the manosphere may be helpful.

Role models

It is down to all of us to set good examples for the young people in our community. We need to demonstrate respectful behaviours to everyone regardless of gender, race, sexuality, economic status or any level of disability . Everyday sexism can seem harmless, but disrespectful comments reinforce harmful beliefs. We must all commit to challenging hate and modelling respectful relationships of all kinds.

Men must set strong examples of positive masculinity, especially regarding the treatment of women and girls and in speaking about mental health. Young men need role models who strive to make others feel safe and who acknowledge that feeling insecure, vulnerable or sad is natural. They must demonstrate that it’s ok to need help and seek support. Equation has been supporting men experiencing domestic abuse since 2014. We know that due to this stigma, many men struggle with accessing help long into adulthood.

At Equation we welcome the important dialogue Adolescence has opened. It superbly demonstrates that we do not only need to look at young people but also at ourselves and all the systems and structures we are part of and uphold that influence young people’s lives and beliefs offline. Abuse is a solvable problem that we can end if we use a coordinated approach, where we all do our part in working together to address it.