Phone-Obsessed Teens & Anxious Parents: Netflix’s ‘Adolescence’ Gets Real
Remember a few years back the tech debate between kids was whether Nintendo is better or PlayStation. However in today’s time children are glued to the smartphone all the time, surfing through the internet world that sometimes is unfamiliar to us as parents. The Netflix series “Adolescence” upon its release has created a buzz in parents’ fraternity.
Adolescence a popular crime series on Netflix, raises concerns about modern parenting, particularly for middle-class families who feel like constantly questioning how we’re doing, because of all the technology our kids use.
Kids and Screens: Are We Helping or Ignoring?
Are we guiding them, or simply letting them go? Let’s imagine our kids’ digital world is like their new neighborhood. Are we showing them which are the safe streets, good neighbors, or warning them about the unsafe or bad areas? Or are we pushing them on the street by saying “Go find your way. Good luck!”
Is giving a 1 year old a smartphone to scroll the reels when bored, while eating or when the kid is fussy, correct? Are we actually teaching them how to handle it? Or are we just hoping they will figure it out? As time passes and they become teenagers they find their own way of handling things online. They either get bullied or become bullies, handle bodily urges, fear of FOMO, figuring out life between all those hormonal changes; they may develop their own coping mechanism towards different situations.
Why relying on screens for parenting is not a good idea
We all want the easy way by installing some monitoring apps and limiting the screen time. But is it really raising good digital kids? We feel this is just enough? Screen time control isn’t the whole story. Are we teaching them how to use internet responsibly or just setting rules? We might be confusing digital presence with real human connection. Digitalization can help but that cannot replace genuine parental bond.
But Adolescence gently reminds us that real connection with kids is rooted deeper than we actually see, it is beyond apps and algorithms. It is about:
Actually being there: As parents we need to put our own phones down and have a proper conversation everyday with our kids, give them time, try to know more about them, what is going on in their lives, their whereabouts, how their day went. Teens are going through the time of personal growth and vulnerabilities; they are exploring their identities, dealing with social pressures. Reading between the lines and capturing every tiny detail can actually make some sense sometimes.
Keeping the door of communication open: All these conversational sessions can only happen if we ensure that our teens feel safe to talk to us about anything they encounter, whether online or offline, either good or bad. Without understanding their emotional landscapes the relationships between a parent and child is balanced on a shaky ground. Open communication allows the parents to stay in tune with their teen’s emotional well-being. It enables parents to provide support, guidance and validation during this challenging time of transformation also preventing issues from escalating. Safe and open communication channel also strengthens the parent child relationship and foster mutual respect and understanding.
This is the time when if the parents fail to establish a safe space and kid feels afraid in talking to their parents, they will look elsewhere for advice and that advice may not be in the best interest of the child.
Trying to understand their world: Their world is now filled with memes, slangs and trends that is exhausting and incomprehensible to parents but still we need to delve in their interests to bridge the gap. We can approach them with more open and curious mindset instead of dismissing or criticizing and showing genuine interest.
Netflix’s global show Adolescence raises huge concerns
A show like Adolescence blew up the internet across all countries creating a stir among the parents and making us think the same issues; shows that this concern runs worldwide. Parents everywhere are struggling with the same concerns about raising teens in this digital age.
So, have you binged Adolescence yet? If not, maybe add it to your watch list. It’s not just another crime drama; it’s a conversation starter. It makes you wonder!
If you are a parent of a child of any age then it is time to digital detox yourself and have a real heart-to-heart with the kids. Because in the end the technology cannot replace a parent with a listening ear and an understanding heart.
