An engrossing Netflix crime drama, "Teenage," poses a disturbing question: Could a teenage boy be influenced by the likes of misogynist Andrew Tate to the point of murdering his young classmate? The series explores this issue in a gripping manner, prompting profound reflections on adolescent psychology and the impact of online influences.
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03-20, 2025"Teenage," comprising four episodes, presents each installment in a continuous shot style, creating a visually striking experience. Centered around the arrest of 13-year-old Jamie, the drama explores the far-reaching consequences of this event. First-time actor Owen Campbell, only 14 at the time, delivers a stellar performance, convincingly guiding viewers into the depths of toxic masculinity, loneliness, and extreme issues like the gender divide.
Ryder Jack is the Chief Facilitator at Tomorrow Man, a social enterprise dedicated to helping young men break down harmful gender stereotypes. He explains that the show questions "what happens to a boy who is ostracized by traditional masculinity." He continues by asking, "Where does he go? What happens to someone who is craving care and validation but is so isolated?" These questions directly address the dilemmas teenagers may face when seeking a sense of belonging.
In "Teenage," Jamie tries to balance the traditional gender expectations of his father's generation with the modern information he is exposed to online. "[Today's teenagers] have gone through cancel culture, a pandemic, and now they are in a polarized time, with the 'woke left' and the 'far right'," Mr. Jack says. This can lead teenagers to fear being "cancelled" or saying the wrong thing. "We see boys retreating online, [where they] have full freedom...to push the boundaries, [to] outdo each other, to shock each other."
The online world is rife with misogynistic communities known as the "manosphere." One of the views is the "80-20 rule," which states that "80% of women are attracted to 20% of men. You have to trick them because you can never get them the normal way." While it is not new for teenage boys to think they need to trick girls into having sex, Mr. Jack says today's young people are bombarded with these messages 24 hours a day on their phones and laptops, and we have yet to see the full impact. These impacts are already beginning to appear in schools, for example, boys trying to embarrass their female teachers.
Central to "Teenage" is the growing polarization between genders. We learn that Katie, the girl Jamie is accused of stabbing, started a cyberbullying campaign against him, calling him an "incel." Incel refers to involuntary celibates, a group of men frustrated by their lack of success with women. They blame women for this perceived failure. In the show, the word "incel" is used as an insult and a joke, a label Jamie consistently rejects. Mr. Jack says that in his workshops with young people, teenage boys also tend to shy away from their views on women. Tomorrow Man's partner organization, Tomorrow Woman, runs workshops with girls, initially separating the genders before bringing them together in later discussions.
Mr. Jack says that "Teenage" conveys an important lesson about prioritizing your relationship with teenagers. His advice to parents and caregivers is to download and familiarize themselves with the apps and websites teenagers use, so they feel less "foreign [and] scary," and he also suggests checking out the federal government's "algorithm of disrespect" resources. If rules are set about no phones in the bedroom or after lights out, he advises leading by example and adhering to those same boundaries. He suggests remaining curious rather than overreacting—freaking out about something might create defensiveness and could prevent teenagers from seeking help from adults again. "If [your child] says something toxic, or something he's heard from the manosphere, don't yell at him, but say: 'Wow, that's a really interesting statement. What do you mean by that?'"
While Mr. Jack does not necessarily recommend teenagers watch "Teenage" as a life lesson, it could spark positive discussions within families. He suggests parents approach it in this way: "Hey, I've heard about this show. I'd love to watch it with you and talk about it, hear what you think." Such openness helps establish healthy communication channels, better guiding teenagers in navigating the complex information environment.
