Elon Musk triggers backlash with misinformation on Netflix hit

"Adolescence" became a Netflix sensation in just one day. Within hours of the premiere of this British production, which is made up of only four episodes, the series was making waves across the internet. It's no surprise, given that "Adolescence" tells a gripping story about a 13-year-old boy accused of murdering a schoolmate. From the first episode, it's clear he committed the crime. However, subsequent episodes follow the police and the boy's family as they strive to understand what really happened in Jamie's life, played incredibly by Owen Cooper. The creators openly discussed their motivations behind the series.

The series creators, writers Stephen Graham (who also portrays the father) and Jack Thorne, have emphasized in numerous interviews that "Adolescence" is not based on any specific true story. In reality, there is no Miller family pinned to the ground by police who stormed their home to arrest their 13-year-old son for allegedly murdering another teenager.

However, the creators mention that the script was developed in response to the growing number of reported cases of murders committed by young boys. The British Ministry of Justice reported in March 2023 that out of 18,000 knife-related crimes, a notable 17.3% were committed by perpetrators aged 10 to 17.

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 fake news about "Adolescence." Musk expressed his surprise after a user wrote that the series is based on real events that took place in Southport, UK, on July 29, 2024. During the incident, 18-year-old Axel Rudakubana attacked children during a dance lesson, killing three girls and injuring eight others. More about the case was covered by WP News. The user pointed out that the creators of "Adolescence" changed the skin colour of the perpetrator, who was, in July 2024, a Black migrant, adding that Netflix is spreading "anti-white propaganda."

Elon Musk repeated this fake news, responding with a simple "wow," thereby increasing the post's visibility on the X platform.

"Adolescence" is not inspired by one specific case, and its production began before the Southport tragedy. The series explores how dangerous internet influences can be on youth, even in seemingly safe home environments. Graham noted that parents are often blamed for such situations, which is not always fair. The production is breaking viewership records on Netflix, with 24.3 million views within four days of its premiere. It may even surpass the popularity of "The Reindeer."