Adolescence isn't based on one true crime story, but shines light on rising teenage knife crimes 

Netflix's latest British crime drama, Adolescence, created by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne, follows a 13-year-old boy, Jamie, who is arrested from his home for the murder of his classmate Katie.

Each episode in the four-part miniseries is filmed in one continuous shot, where Jamie undergoes the subsequent steps in his trial. He maintains his innocence until he finally pleads guilty after 13 months in the finale episode.

While Adolescence is not based on one true story, it highlights the real stories of teenage knife crimes and the negative impact social media has on young men.

More on Adolescence in our story.

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Adolescence is based on increasing teenage knife crimes among men

While Adolescence is not based on a true story, it is inspired by many real-life stories. Graham was deeply affected by the increase in teenage knife crimes, where young men were stabbing women. He went down a rabbit hole following these incidents, which piqued his interest in making a show about what is happening to young men nowadays.

In an interview with Netflix Tudum, Graham talked about his inspiration for Adolescence:

“There was an incident where a young boy [allegedly] stabbed a girl. It shocked me. I was thinking, ‘What’s going on? What’s happening in society where a boy stabs a girl to death? What’s the inciting incident here?’ And then it happened again, and it happened again, and it happened again. I really just wanted to shine a light on it, and ask, ‘Why is this happening today? What’s going on? How have we come to this?’ ”

As told by the creators of the show, the show is based on the many knife crimes involving young men and how it is shaping society as a whole. He also added:

“One of our aims was to ask, ‘What is happening to our young men these days, and what are the pressures they face from their peers, from the internet, and from social media? And the pressures that come from all of those things are as difficult for kids here as they are the world over.”

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Adolescence also highlights the negative effects of social media on young men

The show not only explores the violent streak among young men but also investigates the cause of that behavior. It explores the concept of 'manosphere,' which is “websites, blogs, and online forums promoting masculinity, misogyny, and opposition to feminism'' as per Wikipedia.

The show highlights the role of social media and influencers like Andrew Tate (who is mentioned in Adolescence as “Andrew Tate shite'') and how negatively they are affecting these young men.

One of the important aspects of the show is the parent's realization of what kind of a child they have raised.

In Episode 4, when Jamie reveals to his father that he will plead guilty, Eddie breaks down, realizing that he failed as a father. His wife Madna also assumes responsibility for her son's actions, saying that she regrets not spending more time with their son, who would hole up in his room and spend time only on his computer.

In an interview with GQ UK, Graham notes:

''When I was a kid, when I was in my bedroom, my mum knew I was safe. There wasn't really much I could be doing that would bring me to harm. But in today's day and age, these phones are very dangerous. And these so-called influencers, I think there's a huge responsibility there.''

The show is a reminder that if young men of the world are subjected to these false ideas of toxic masculinity, they will grow up to become angry, insecure, and frustrated men prone to commit violent crimes.

Also Read: Will there be an Adolescence Season 2 on Netflix? Speculations, explored

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