Flanders to screen Netflix series Adolescence in schools

Flanders has decided to use the Netflix series Adolescence as educational material to raise awareness among young people about the influence of social media on their identity and mental health, Flemish media minister Cieltje Van Achter (N-VA) has announced.

The hugely successful mini-series follows a 13-year-old boy who, influenced by ideas spread on social media and his classmates, kills a girl at his school.

“The series shows how digital influences and loneliness can cause some young people to go off the rails when they don't have enough support,” Van Achter said.

“It also illustrates how adults and teachers are increasingly losing touch with the world of young people. It’s important that we support teachers and young people so that these issues can be addressed.”

The UK and the Netherlands already show the fictional series in schools. In Flanders, additional educational materials will be developed for that purpose.

The materials will be designed by the Flemish education authorities in partnership with Netflix and the Flemish reference centre for media and digital literacy, Mediawijs.

Minister Van Achter said the aim was to better equip schools in the short term to address the negative impact of social media on young people in the classroom.

In the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, widespread use of the series Adolescence is not possible: “In terms of legislation, the educational freedom of schools and organising authorities is the norm in this area,” said French-speaking education minister Valérie Glatigny (MR).