What Does the Netflix Show Adolescence Teach Us About Teaching?

The Netflix miniseries Adolescence (2025) is, at its core, not just a crime drama—it’s a mirror. One that reflects the emotional volatility, confusion, and quiet desperation pulsing beneath the surface of teenage life in the digital age. Its haunting portrayal of a 13-year-old boy accused of murder doesn’t just tell a story—it poses a challenge, especially to those of us working in education: Are we truly listening to our students? Or are we too distracted by outcomes, expectations, and protocol to see the signs when they surface?

What happens in Netflix's Adolescence?

In Adolescence, Jamie Miller is not painted as a monster or a stereotype. He is vulnerable, introverted, and, in many ways, invisible. The power of the show lies in its refusal to simplify. It confronts viewers with the complexity of youth: the online radicalisation of boys, the pervasive influence of misogynistic ideologies, the allure of extreme communities for those who feel powerless, and the institutional systems that fail to catch these signs early enough. For teachers, these aren't just plot devices—they're real concerns that echo through hallways, classrooms, and school counselling rooms every day.

Each episode, filmed in a single continuous take, creates a sense of immersion—trapping the viewer in the unfolding tension of each moment, much like educators are immersed in the rhythms of school life. There’s no cut, no escape, just a steady unfolding of emotion and consequence. That’s how it often feels to teach in this era of constant connectivity and emotional overload: like being dropped into the middle of a storm and expected to anchor everyone through it.

What Netflix's Adolescence teaches most powerfully is that violence, especially among young people, rarely arrives without warning. It builds silently—through neglect, miscommunication, and systemic inattention. Jamie’s transformation is not sudden; it is cultivated in digital echo chambers, shaped by a lack of emotional intervention, and cemented by a sense of invisibility. As educators, we often pride ourselves on being aware, intuitive, and responsive. But this series dares us to ask: How often are we truly attuned to what students are saying when they aren't speaking?

The series also highlights the difficult role teachers play—not just as instructors, but as frontline witnesses to trauma, emotional distress, identity conflict, and mental health deterioration. Characters like Jamie’s form teacher and school counsellor are shown as caring but constrained—by curriculum demands, safeguarding procedures, or simply their own uncertainty. It’s a sobering portrayal of how even the most well-intentioned educators can feel powerless when faced with systemic gaps and digital threats that evolve faster than professional development can keep up.

Yet, Adolescence isn’t hopeless. It offers subtle moments of grace—moments where a teacher pauses, notices, and asks the right question. Moments where listening, rather than lecturing, opens a door. And in those fleeting exchanges, it reminds us of the profound influence educators can have—not by solving every problem, but by being present, consistent, and unafraid to engage with the uncomfortable.

In an age where students are increasingly shaped by forces outside our reach—social media, YouTube algorithms, influencer culture, and polarised digital discourse—we must double down on what schools can provide: emotionally intelligent learning environments. Spaces where students are seen as whole people. Where character education, digital literacy, and wellbeing are not side conversations but central pillars. Where trust is not contingent on academic performance, but built through daily acts of care.

Reflective Questions for the Classroom

• Are there students in your class who may be silently struggling with identity, isolation, or harmful online influence?

• How can we build stronger, trust-based relationships in school settings to detect early signs of emotional distress or mental health risks?

• In what ways do our current school systems support or overlook adolescent boys in crisis?

• What would it take to embed media literacy and digital safety more meaningfully into our daily teaching practice?

As Adolescence so powerfully illustrates, we cannot assume that all is well just because a student is quiet, compliant, or performing academically. In fact, the danger may be precisely in those students who have learned how to disappear in plain sight. The show asks us not to fear teenagers—but to reach them, understand them, and educate them not just academically, but emotionally and socially.

How did you feel about the show? Did it make you think? Let us know in the comments below.