Flanders has decided to use the Netflix series Adolescence as educational material to raise awareness among young people about the impact of social media on their identity and mental health.
Cieltje Van Achter (N-VA), the Flemish Minister for Media, made the announcement in a session of the regional Flemish Parliament.
The highly popular mini-series portrays a 13-year-old English teenager who, influenced by ideas circulating on social networks and by classmates, ends up killing a young girl from his school.
Following the lead of the UK and the Netherlands, this drama will soon be made available to schools in Flanders. Additional educational resources will be developed for this purpose, designed by the Flemish Education Department in collaboration with Netflix and the Flemish digital media competence centre, Mediawijs.
According to the minister, the goal is to better equip schools in the short term to discuss the (negative) impacts of social media on young people in class.
"The series demonstrates how digital influences and loneliness can lead some young people astray when they lack sufficient support. It also highlights how adults and teachers are increasingly losing touch with the world of young people," Ms Van Achter commented. "It is important that we support teachers and young people so these topics can be discussed," she added.
In the French-speaking Community of Belgium, a similar widespread use of the series “Adolescence” is not feasible. "According to the legislation, the educational autonomy of schools and organising authorities is the norm in these matters," stated Valérie Glatigny, the Francophone Minister of Education, a fortnight ago regarding this issue.
