'Adolescence': A British Story That Resonated With the World

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Adolescence: A British Story That Resonated With the World

Entertainment

12 May 2026

GlobalUnited Kingdom

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Over half (56%) of parents familiar with the show say Adolescence has prompted conversations they have never previously had with their child.

Nearly two-thirds (64%) of teenagers familiar with Adolescence said they felt more understood as a result of the show.

One in ten teens said they watched Adolescence in school and 20% discussed the issues raised in class.

Adolescence, a Netflix drama, was awarded eight Emmy awards including Owen Cooper making history as the youngest ever star to win best supporting actor in a limited series.

When Adolescence launched on Netflix, it quickly became more than just a television series - it became a national conversation. A Netflix-commissioned report reveals how the show has resonated far beyond the screen, sparking meaningful conversations across the globe.

With more than 141M views in its first three months, Adolescence not only broke records - becoming the UK's first streaming show to top Barb's weekly charts but also struck a deeper cultural nerve.

Anne Mensah, VP of UK Content at Netflix, said: We are incredibly proud of the lasting impact Adolescence has had, encouraging us all to have difficult but vital conversations about the modern world. Television has the power to bring a country together, shift and open perspectives and provide connection alongside entertainment. We are privileged to be part of that British tradition.

Conversations around Adolescence extended into classrooms, as one in ten (11%) UK teens surveyed said they watched the show at school and 20% of those familiar with the show discussed the issues raised in class. Classrooms across Europe, Asia and Australia used it as a teaching tool. In the UK, Netflix partnered with healthy relationships charity Tender which produced guides and resources for teachers, parents and carers to help navigate conversations around the series.

Susie McDonald MBE, CEO of Tender, said: Adolescence has sparked a global conversation about the troubling attitudes and behaviours fuelled by the harmful content young people encounter online. It has highlighted why young people need the skills to think critically about the content they see and the confidence to challenge it. And it spotlights the urgent need for all children to receive high-quality relationships education in schools and informed support from parents and carers. Relationships education is a rehearsal for life.

The research highlights a significant shift in awareness and communication among families with more than half (56%) of those parents saying Adolescence has prompted conversations they have never previously had with their child.

Encouragingly, 61% said the series made it easier to talk to their parents and a further two-thirds (64%) of teens have said they feel more understood as a result. This comes despite 42% of teens saying they feel their parents don't understand the realities of social media.

Its reach has been equally global. Within four weeks of release, Adolescence ranked #1 in 80 countries, with governments, educators and media organisations worldwide using it as a catalyst for their own conversations.

France: President Macron praised Adolescence in a speech on protecting children online; the Ministry of Education introduced classroom resources.

Australia: Prime Minister Albanese urged Australians to watch; national media created guides for parents.

Germany, Belgium, Portugal: National education bodies developed teaching materials and resources for schools.

The story of Adolescence doesn't end with its final episode. Its legacy is not only the awards it won, but the awareness it raised and the connections it created. Across homes, schools and parliaments, it has helped bring hidden issues into the open and shown that British creativity can drive global conversations.

The full report, commissioned by Netflix, is available here.

Notes to Editors

Opinium Research polled 2,000 parents, guardians and carers of 13-17 year olds and their children in the United Kingdom using an online survey methodology. Results were weighted by age, gender, and region to nationally representative criteria of the parents. Fieldwork was conducted between 1st and 9th September 2025.

LINK:	https://about.netflix.com/en/news/adolescence-a-british-story-that-res...
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