Co-Creator of ‘Adolescence’ Joins Pact for Smartphone-Free Childhood, Fears Future Impact

In Adolescence, the focus is on the increasing trend of young males being radicalized online, and Jack Thorne is stepping up to address this issue.

The writer and co-creator of Netflix’s crime drama miniseries has become one of over 100,000 individuals endorsing the Smartphone Free Childhood group’s Parent Pact. This initiative encourages parents to postpone giving their children smartphones until they are 16, targeting kids at a “critical age.”

“SFC is an incredible organization, and the Parent Pact is a fantastic concept,” Thorne was quoted by The Guardian as saying. “It’s something I plan to adopt as my own child nears the age of desiring a smartphone. The upcoming challenges frighten me, and I believe that empowering parents is crucial in this battle.”

Thorne, father to an eight-year-old son, joins famous figures such as Benedict Cumberbatch, Paloma Faith, and Emma Barnett in signing the pact, which was initiated in September and now includes over 11,500 schools across the UK.

Together with actor Stephen Graham, Thorne co-created the four-episode series that features a continuous single shot per episode to highlight the serious issue of young boys engaging in knife crimes. Topping Netflix’s viewership charts in its opening week, Adolescence does not focus on a particular real-life event but features Owen Cooper as 13-year-old Jamie Miller, who is apprehended for the murder of a female classmate.

“The central issue we were exploring was the increase in violence perpetrated by young males against females. What’s driving this trend?” Thorne previously explained to Deadline. “We aimed to thoroughly address this question without simplifying the answers, a goal Stephen [Graham] and I had from the start.”

Thorne continued, “Our goal has been to bring attention to a problem that’s widely acknowledged but rarely examined in depth. By telling the story through Jamie, we hoped to provide a new perspective. It’s rewarding to see that viewers are eager to connect with Jamie and understand the issue through his experiences.”