NETFLIX has said it will make all episodes of the hit show Adolescence free to stream for all secondary schools across the UK.
The TV drama, which examines so-called incel (involuntary celibate) culture, has prompted a national conversation about misogyny and online safety.
Experts and campaigners are split on whether playing episodes for children in schools is the right thing to do.
Online safety expert Lina Ghazal said TV shows like Adolescence “shine a light on the devastating impact” the spread of such content can have on young people, while leading equality campaigner Gina Martin warned showing it in under-funded schools with under-resourced teachers, adding it "is not smart" or "safe".
Are schools in Scotland showing Adolescence?
The drama will be free to all secondary schools across the country through the Into Film+ schools streaming service. The move has been backed by the Prime Minister in the House of Commons.
He said the series will help students better understand the impact of misogyny, dangers of online radicalisation and the importance of healthy relationships.
What individual schools show from Into Film+ is not under the provision of the Scottish or UK governments.
Decisions to show films in classes is up to individual schools and teachers, made in collaboration with their local authority.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We welcome the move to make Adolescence available to show pupils in Scottish schools.
"Whilst we are actively taking steps to tackle gender-based violence in schools, it is important to be clear the increase in violence towards women across society will only be resolved when men and boys tackle problematic behaviour.
“In January, a Ministerial Online Safety Taskforce was launched to focus on addressing the risk of online harm to children and young people, and identify what more can be done to protect them.
“The Scottish Government also supports the Digital Discourse Initiative which provides teachers and educators in Scotland with tools to counter the effects of online hate and disinformation, and teach core media literacy skills.”
Is Adolescence based on a true story?
Co-creator Jack Thorne recently dismissed an online theory that the series changed the race of the lead character and stressed it was not based on a real case.
A post on social media amplified by Elon Musk has suggested the story, which features a white actor, is based on the Southport attacker.
Thorne rejected the accusations of “race-swapping” in the series.
It is not based on a true story and is “making a point about masculinity”, and not race, Thorne told the News Agents podcast.
“It’s absurd to say that (knife crime) is only committed by black boys. It’s absurd. It’s not true. And history shows a lot of cases of kids from all races committing these crimes,” he said.
