What Adolescence Gets Wrong About Teenage Violence: Beyond the Algorithm

In the Netflix series Adolescence, we follow a disturbing tale: a teenage boy commits a brutal murder, seemingly driven by a dark cocktail of isolation and violent content online. The narrative is clear—social media is the villain, feeding unfiltered brutality to a boy adrift in a vacuum of emotional connection. His parents are well-meaning but distant. The father is absent or ineffective. The result? A boy who learns to kill from the internet.

But real life is rarely that simple.

Adolescence is said to be inspired by two recent UK cases: the murder of Brianna Ghey by Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe, and the chilling actions of Hassan Sentamu, a 14-year-old who murdered a 15-year-old girl in London. These cases horrified the nation. But they also revealed something the series overlooks: the profound role of family dysfunction, trauma, and intergenerational disconnection—alongside the potential influence of harmful online content.

The Reality Behind the Screen

Let's start with Eddie Ratcliffe. On paper, his upbringing seemed relatively stable. He lived with his mother, Alice Hemmings, a wellbeing coach and ski instructor. The family went on boating trips and skiing holidays. His father, Kyle Ratcliffe, ran a small kickboxing gym. But behind this façade lay deep dysfunction.

Kyle Ratcliffe was convicted of sexual offences just before his son's trial—exposing himself to teenage girls and secretly recording a young girl in a changing room. He was sentenced to prison and added to the sex offenders register. This wasn't a distant father figure; this was an actively damaging male presence. During the trial, Eddie reportedly avoided eye contact with both parents. Despite the "normal" exterior, something vital had been missing: emotional safety, integrity, and a reliable model of masculinity.

Scarlett Jenkinson's background remains more private. She was described as the daughter of teachers. While less is known publicly about her father, her participation in a calculated, sadistic murder suggests a disturbing lack of empathy and a psychological profile far more complex than a passive social media user gone wrong.

Then there's Hassan Sentamu. Born in Uganda and raised in the UK, his early life was steeped in instability. His mother fled to the UK with him after allegedly suffering domestic abuse. At 11, Hassan was sent back to Uganda to a boarding school where he reported being physically abused. By 12, he was found alone at home in London and placed into foster care. His father's presence appears to have been entirely absent—and not in the passive way the series implies. He was out of the picture following allegations of violence, which shaped Hassan's early perception of relationships and masculinity.

The Complex Interplay of Influences

Adolescence places significant emphasis on TikTok, Reddit, and YouTube as primary drivers of violent behaviour. These platforms can indeed serve as echo chambers for dangerous ideologies, and research suggests that algorithm-driven content can intensify certain tendencies in vulnerable young people.

However, research in developmental psychology suggests that young people's vulnerability to violent media typically connects to pre-existing risk factors. According to a 2019 study published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence, children who experience neglect, trauma, or family instability are more susceptible to being influenced by violent content—suggesting that online influences operate alongside, rather than independent of, real-world experiences.

The evidence from these cases points to a more complex reality: social media may amplify tendencies or provide methods, but the underlying vulnerabilities often stem from fractured relationships, trauma histories, and insufficient guidance and accountability.

A More Nuanced Approach to Prevention

Keir Starmer has announced plans to show Adolescence in every school across the UK. While digital literacy and awareness are valuable educational goals, this initiative would benefit from being part of a more comprehensive approach.

Social media regulation and education are important pieces of the puzzle. However, addressing family support systems—including but not limited to father involvement—represents another crucial component that deserves equal attention.

According to the UK's Centre for Social Justice's 2021 report "Family Structure Still Matters":

• Children from father-absent homes are twice as likely to suffer mental health problems.

  
  

• They are more than twice as likely to be excluded from school.

  
  

• They are four times more likely to be involved in violent crime.

Similarly, the Office for National Statistics (2020) data shows that children living in single-parent households have higher rates of behavioural issues and academic challenges—though it's important to acknowledge that many single parents raise well-adjusted, non-violent children through extraordinary dedication and support networks.

Diverse Family Structures and Success Stories

It's essential to recognise that many single parents—mothers and fathers alike—successfully raise emotionally healthy, non-violent children. Research from the Nuffield Foundation (2018) indicates that the quality of parenting and stability of the home environment often matter more than family structure itself.

Single-parent families can thrive when they have adequate community support, economic stability, and access to resources. The issue isn't about promoting one family structure over others, but rather ensuring that children have access to stable, caring relationships with adults who model healthy behaviour—whether that's biological parents, extended family, mentors, or other caring adults.

This is Where Change Begins

As the founder of True North Odyssey (TNO), I've seen firsthand how reconnecting fathers with their children can transform families. Our organisation works with fathers across all walks of life to help them reconnect with their purpose, their power, and their children. Through retreats, adventure-based experiences, and deep personal work, we create spaces where men can explore their shadows, uncover their stories, and choose to forge a different legacy.

TNO is one of many organisations across the UK working to strengthen family bonds and provide positive role models. Others focus on supporting single mothers, creating community mentorship programmes, or building school-based support systems. All these approaches have value in addressing the complex roots of youth violence.

A Comprehensive Solution

The government's initiative to screen Adolescence in schools could be strengthened by pairing it with:

1. Family support programmes that strengthen parent-child bonds regardless of family structure, including organisations supporting single mothers like Gingerbread, One Parent Families Scotland, Single Parents Support, and Home-Start UK

   
   

2. Community mentorship opportunities that provide additional adult role models through organisations like Band of Brothers, Journey Man, Dads Need Lads and Daddyless Daughters

   
   

3. Trauma-informed approaches in schools and youth services

   
   

4. Digital literacy education that helps young people critically evaluate online content

   
   

These complementary approaches acknowledge the important work already being done by grassroots organisations focused on supporting parents in various family structures—whether it's single mothers getting support from Women's Aid and the Single Mums Business Network, or fathers finding guidance through father-focused mentorship programmes.

Moving Forward Together

The answer to youth violence isn't found in a single approach—whether that's media censorship, family structure, or educational initiatives alone. It requires a multi-faceted strategy that acknowledges both online influences and real-world relationships.

By supporting parents (both mothers and fathers), providing positive role models, addressing trauma, and teaching digital literacy, we can create the connections young people need to navigate an increasingly complex world without turning to violence.

Because the answer isn't just about what content young people consume—it's about who stands beside them as they make sense of it.