Netflix’s Adolescence sparks Keir Starmer’s fears as he is requested about Minister for Men

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he had been watching Netflix’s Adolescence, which explores toxic masculinity and social media, and that such issues must be taken seriously

Keir Starmer said the Government should not “shrug our shoulders” and ignore problems affecting the attitudes of boys and young men.

The Prime Minister said he had been watching Netflix’s Adolescence, which explores toxic masculinity and social media, and said such issues must be taken seriously. He said he has spoken to former England football manager Sir Gareth Southgate, who last week used a speech to say many young men were turning to “manipulative and toxic influencers” because of a lack of role models. Elsewhere Mr Starmer rejected the idea of creating a “minister for men”, saying: “I don’t think that’s the answer”.

Mr Starmer told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I am worried about this, I’ve got a 16-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl. There’s a reason why the debate has suddenly sparked into life on this and that’s because I think a lot of parents, a lot of people who work with young people at school or elsewhere, recognise that we may have a problem with boys and young men that we need to address.”

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The PM suggested footballers and athletes could be inspiring role models for boys and young men but said there was also a need for inspirational people in communities. Asked who the British male role models were, Mr Starmer: “I always go to sport for this. Footballers, athletes, I think they are role models.

“But I also think if you actually ask a young person, they’re more likely to identify somebody who’s in their school, a teacher, or somebody who maybe is a sports coach, something like that. So we need to make sure that – this is something that dads do, dad would reach for a sort of sporting hero – I think children, young people, are more likely to reach someone closer to them, within their school, within their community. And that’s, I think, where we need to do some of the work.”

During last week’s PMQs, Mr Starmer said he was watching Adolescence with his children. The four-part crime drama – about a boy accused of killing his female classmate – examines so-called incel culture, which has been blamed for misogyny online, and the use of social media in bullying. He said that “this violence carried out by young men, influenced by what they see online, is a real problem, it’s abhorrent, and we have to tackle it”.

The show’s co-creator Jack Thorne said he hopes “we can use this moment to provoke this Government to consider quite serious change”. He referenced that the Australian Senate has passed a social media ban for young children. “I would extend it further, it is about gaming too, and it’s about getting inside all these different systems,” Thorne said.

He admitted that there was “good” about social media and gaming, but stressed the Government should legislate to protect teenagers and see “what change that could bring to our society”. Australia is set to make platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram liable for fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars (£25 million) if they systematically do not prevent those younger than 16 from holding accounts. Thorne also said the issue is not just about controversial influencer Andrew Tate, adding this is why the series has “struck a chord” worldwide.

Following the show, Sir Gareth delivered the Richard Dimbleby Lecture at the University of London, saying “manipulative and toxic influencers” trick young men into thinking women are against them. The former England manager said many young men end up “searching for direction” and fill the void with a “new kind of role model who do not have their best interest at heart”.

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