Teen Violence & the Internet: Dr. Justin Coulson on Adolescence & Online Dangers
Phil is joined by Dr. Justin Coulson, parenting expert and co-host of Channel Nine’s Parental Guidance, to discuss Netflix’s controversial drama Adolescence. The series follows a 13-year-old boy who, after being radicalized by incel and misogynistic culture online, kills a female classmate.
Dr. Coulson emphasizes that discussions about children’s online experiences are often too abstract, focusing on broad concerns like exposure to explicit content rather than real-world consequences.
As a frequent speaker in schools, he witnesses firsthand the challenges kids face. He notes that, historically, children were raised in mixed-age groups with adult supervision, whereas today, they rely primarily on each other—despite their developing brains and lack of maturity to make safe choices.
He also acknowledges that teachers are doing their best with the resources available.
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