Elon Musk amplifies misinformation on Netflix hit "Adolescence"

"Adolescence" became a Netflix hit overnight. Just hours after the premiere of the British production, which consists of only four episodes, it gained significant attention across the internet. This is not surprising, as "Adolescence" presents a compelling story about a 13-year-old boy accused of murdering a schoolmate. From the first episode, it's evident he committed the crime. However, in the subsequent episodes, viewers follow the police and the boy's family as they try to uncover what truly happened in Jamie's life (portrayed impressively by Owen Cooper). The series creators have been open about their motivations.

The series creators, writers Stephen Graham (also playing the father) and Jack Thorne, have stressed in numerous interviews that "Adolescence" is not based on any specific true story. There isn't a real Miller family that was suddenly subdued by police storming their home and arresting their 13-year-old son accused of murder.

However, the creators note that the script was developed in response to increasing concerns about violent crimes committed by young boys. In March 2023, the British Ministry of Justice reported that out of 18,000 knife-related crimes, 17.3% involved offenders aged 10 to 17. This is approximately 3,100 incidents involving youth.

In one interview, Stephen Graham reflected on how deeply affected he was by a case in which a young boy stabbed a girl. He questioned what was happening to society that such a tragedy could occur and what might be behind such an act of violence. As similar incidents kept happening again and again, he felt the need to raise awareness and ask people: how did we allow this to happen?

Graham also raised concerns about the situation of young men, questioning what is happening to them and what kinds of pressures they are facing—from their peers, the internet, and social media.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk, the head of the X platform, is spreading false information about "Adolescence." Musk voiced his surprise after a user claimed the series is based on real events that occurred in Southport, UK on July 29, 2024. According to the user, an 18-year-old named Axel Rudakubana attacked children during a dance class, killing three girls and injuring eight others. More about the case was reported by WP News. The user in question noted in his post that the creators of "Adolescence" had changed the perpetrator's skin colour, who was indeed a Black migrant in July 2024, adding that Netflix is spreading "anti-white propaganda."

Elon Musk echoed these false claims, adding a simple "wow," thereby increasing the post's visibility on the X platform.

"Adolescence" is not inspired by any specific case, and production began before the Southport incident. The series illustrates how dangerous online influences can be on youth, even when they seemingly have a safe home environment. Graham pointed out that parents are often blamed for such tragedies, but this is not always fair. The show's viewership on Netflix has been record-breaking, with approximately 24 million views within four days of its release. It may even surpass the popularity of "The Reindeer."