Teens want to discuss issues raised by Adolescence

Madison, 14, said she had suffered abuse on social media and had learnt to control her use of it

Teenagers in Cornwall say they would welcome the opportunity to watch the television drama Adolescence while at school.

Members of a youth group in Callington said they wanted the chance to discuss the issues raised by the programme's storyline.

The Netflix drama focuses on the corrosive impact of social media and the power misogynist influencers can have on some teenage boys.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed an announcement by Netflix that the drama will be available to all UK secondary schools through the Into Film+ schools streaming service.

Madison, 14, said she had learned to control her use of social media

Madison, 14, said she had controlled her use of social media after suffering abuse online.

She said she talked to her mother about social media issues, including being sent hateful messages by someone she knew well.

"I'll make videos on TikTok and I'll turn my comments off so people can't comment on me,"she said.

She meets friends Cara, 15, and Ruan, 14, at a local youth club to play pool.

They all said they were keen to watch Adolescence, which has has become the first streaming show to top the UK's weekly TV ratings.

Cara said: "It sounds relatable to our age so it's probably one of the better shows to watch.

"I don't really use social media except to watch a couple of videos but other than that it's not really a big part of my life."

Cara and Ruan said they spoke to their parents about anything that concerned them on social media

Cara said she used Snapchat to keep up with friends and her parents trusted her to use it safely.

Ruan said he only used Snapchat to talk to his friends and blocked any messages that made him feel uncomfortable.

Andy Phippen, a professor of digital rights at Bournemouth University, said young people often thought their parents would "freak out" if they told them about any bullying or hate crimes they may have seen on social media.

The research partner with the UK Safer Internet Centre said Adolescence was a good way of starting a conversation about misuse of social media.

He said: "Young people want to speak to parents but they are worried if they speak to someone things will get worse."