"I haven't done anything," the boy sobs repeatedly, even as the evidence is laid out in front of him. Later, his parents, talking despairingly to each other about their son's arrest, echo his remarks: "We've done nothing wrong, have we?"

The young boy is Jamie Miller, a 13-year-old who is taken by police in the first episode of the series after they find the body of his murdered classmate Katie Leonard.

It is revealed that Jamie has been indoctrinatedTaught to accept a set of beliefs without questioning them. by misogynisticStrong and deeply ingrained prejudice against women.  social media influencers. And CCTV footage shows him confronting Katie, who previously rejected him, before he becomes enraged and stabs her repeatedly.

The impactfulHaving a major impact. show has broken records. The opening episode of Adolescence was watched by 6.45 million people in its first week, the biggest audience for any streaming TV show in the UK in a single week.

Viewers included the UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who told the House of Commons last week that he had watched Adolescence with his two teenage children.

"This violence carried out by young men influenced by what they see online is a real problem. It's abhorrentInspiring disgust. and we have to tackle it," Starmer said, while recommending that young people watch it too.

The show was created by its star Stephen Graham and screenwriter Jack Thorne. Graham said that it was inspired by a horrific spate of male knife crimes against women in Britain. Graham and Thorne decided to focus on the role of internet cultures in promoting misogynistic violence, saying they wanted to "look into the eye of male rage".¹

For many, the most alarming scene comes in episode three, when child psychologist Briony attempts to get Jamie to open up to her. In response, Jamie tries to appeal to her, then teases and mocks her, then intimidates her, and then suddenly snaps into an uncontrollable misogynistic rage.

Viewers felt that such scenes aptly reflected Jamie's fully-fledged descent into anger and entitlement; his mistaken belief that women are adversaries; as well as his parents' and teachers' inability to recognise and tackle the problem before it was too late.

These are chilling scenes, which have clearly resonated with many in Britain and beyond. The show clocked 24.3 million views across the world within four days, and topped the Netflix ratings in 71 countries from Vietnam to Chile. "Male rage" is a problem everywhere.

Are we doing enough to end this new "pandemic"? France has already implemented a smartphone ban in primary and middle schools, while Denmark is soon to do the same across all schools. Australia has banned under-16s from social media. Some say that Britain's response has been comparatively sluggish.

But others say phones and the internet are not the problem. They think the most important thing we can do is provide positive role models for young men, so that they do not have to turn to online "red pillIn the 1999 science fiction film The Matrix, computer hacker Neo swallows a red pill and discovers that reality is a simulation. " influencers in order to feel understood.

One advocateTo publicly recommend or support a particular cause.  for this approach is former England football manager Sir Gareth Southgate, who spoke out last week about the need for better male role models and the danger of "callous, manipulative and toxic influencers".

"Too many young men are isolated," said Southgate in the BBC's annual Richard Dimbleby Lecture. "Many don't have mentors - teachers, coaches, bosses - who understand how best to push them to grow. And so, when they struggle, young men inevitably try to handle whatever situation they find themselves in, alone."²

Is this because it simply shows the truth?

Yes: Male violence against women as a result of online misogyny is a huge and growing problem, but Adolescence has made it impossible to avoid. Now everyone, from MPs to police, has to confront the issue and find a way to create a better world.

No: The show has clearly been a massive success, but it is a drama, not a documentary. Its appeal to people is not just because it "tells the truth". At the end of the day, it is entertainment, and it is designed to exaggerate or caricature an issue, not represent it completely faithfully.

Or... To say it is only popular because it tells the truth is to discredit many of the achievements of the show. Many people liked it because of its formal innovations and incredible acting, particularly by newcomer Owen Cooper.

Indoctrinated - Taught to accept a set of beliefs without questioning them.

Misogynistic - Strong and deeply ingrained prejudice against women. 

Impactful - Having a major impact.

Abhorrent - Inspiring disgust.

Red pill - In the 1999 science fiction film The Matrix, computer hacker Neo swallows a red pill and discovers that reality is a simulation.

Advocate - To publicly recommend or support a particular cause.