Dutch schools to use Netflix series ‘Adolescence’ to warn teens of online radicalization
Dutch secondary schools will soon be able to screen the British Netflix series Adolescence free of charge as part of a new educational initiative focused on social media and peer pressure, NOS reports. The move follows a partnership between Netflix and the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision (Beeld en Geluid), which is developing accompanying digital teaching materials aimed at students aged 12 and older.
The four-part series, which follows the life of 13-year-old Jamie Miller—accused of murdering a female classmate—explores how young people can be drawn into radical online spaces without their parents’ knowledge. Jamie is portrayed as having adopted extreme ideas through social media, ultimately transforming the lives of his entire family. The show has sparked widespread societal debate since its release and has already been viewed by over 114 million people, according to American media reports.
The decision to incorporate Adolescence into Dutch classrooms follows the developments in the United Kingdom, where British Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently expressed his support for making the series available in all schools. In response, Netflix UK made the show freely accessible to British schools.
The Dutch effort is being led by Tweede Kamer member Lisa Kathmann of GroenLinks-PvdA, who wants to expose students to the series and its themes in a controlled, educational environment. The accompanying educational material will be digital and tailored to promote critical thinking about media influence, online behavior, and group dynamics.
“By watching and discussing this series in the classroom, we can empower young people in a safe setting and prevent them from being pulled into the ‘manosphere’ and its harmful consequences,” said Kathmann.
The term manosphere refers to a collection of websites and blogs that promote a specific, often misogynistic form of masculinity. Influential figures in this space, such as Andrew Tate, have gained massive online followings and are blamed for spreading anti-women rhetoric among young males.
Eppo van Nispen tot Sevenaer, director of Beeld en Geluid, said the show is “ideally suited to start conversations with young people about the role of media in their lives.” He emphasized that “because the world young people live in is often far removed from that of their parents and teachers, it’s important to learn how to have these conversations.”
Over the weekend, Erik Akerboom, Director-General of the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD), urged parents to watch the series with their teenage children. Speaking on the television program WNL op Zondag, Akerboom said the show effectively illustrates “how one can end up in a parallel world.” He described the internet as “a breeding ground” for future radicalizing youth.
Akerboom expressed particular concern about children between the ages of 12 and 17. “Adolescence is not about terrorism,” he stated, “but it is about how you can be sucked into a world that is very dangerous.”
