I have to say upfront that I haven't seen the film, though with so much media attention I almost feel as if I have. Everytime such a crime is reported in real life I do feel for parents on both sides, for the victim's and the perpetrator's. I read an interview with Stephen Graham where he said, " I should have done better,” are Eddie's last, heart-breaking words in the series – but this is also the room where Jamie locked himself away, on the computer until the early hours of each morning, immersing himself in online propaganda. All this, amongst other factors, led him to his heinous act of killing Katie. “This is where the person who Jamie became was created,” Graham added. There are also parallels with those youngsters who have taken their own lives after immersing themselves in online ....what, propaganda? I can't even think which would be the right word to describe it. The relationship between children and their parents is hugely significant but there must also be the factor of kids' over exposure to the wrong type of online stuff. Will parents be brave enough to say no, enough is enough. With smartphones becoming the norm at a younger and younger age I do fear for the mental well being of youngsters, both girls and boys.
I'm not suggesting Jamie's behaviour is entirely down to his troubled relationship with his father – life is way too complex for that. It's just one of several factors that led him to where the ended up. Exposure to the wrong sort of online content clearly plays a key role in shaping young people. And that's something we need to tackle together as a society, rather than leaving it all up to individual parents.
Sorry, I didn't mean to suggest that. In fact, from the cases I've read about in real life it seems often that young perpetrators don't come from dysfunctional families. You're right that society needs to grasp the nettle of how to limit the exposure of the wrong type of online content. I'm not sure governments are ready to take a lead on that .
Broken kids like Jamie can indeed hail from any kind of family. My aim with the post was to explore how fathers can help their sons build a healthy idea of manhood. I agree that the powers that be have been dragging their feet on regulating tech, though that (thankfully) seems to be changing.
That scene you described in the film was so poignant. Thank you for sharing your take on fatherhood and parenting.
It's seared in my memory. Glad you enjoyed my take. Was kinda cathartic writing it...
good one Carl! Here was my parallel take, below. We could do a long 2-hander on this one...
https://www.forbes.com/sites/avivahwittenbergcox/2025/04/05/3-reasons-why-adolescence-hit-homein-80-countries/
Your piece is typically brilliant, Avivah! We should definitely talk about a 2-hander...
I have to say upfront that I haven't seen the film, though with so much media attention I almost feel as if I have. Everytime such a crime is reported in real life I do feel for parents on both sides, for the victim's and the perpetrator's. I read an interview with Stephen Graham where he said, " I should have done better,” are Eddie's last, heart-breaking words in the series – but this is also the room where Jamie locked himself away, on the computer until the early hours of each morning, immersing himself in online propaganda. All this, amongst other factors, led him to his heinous act of killing Katie. “This is where the person who Jamie became was created,” Graham added. There are also parallels with those youngsters who have taken their own lives after immersing themselves in online ....what, propaganda? I can't even think which would be the right word to describe it. The relationship between children and their parents is hugely significant but there must also be the factor of kids' over exposure to the wrong type of online stuff. Will parents be brave enough to say no, enough is enough. With smartphones becoming the norm at a younger and younger age I do fear for the mental well being of youngsters, both girls and boys.
I'm not suggesting Jamie's behaviour is entirely down to his troubled relationship with his father – life is way too complex for that. It's just one of several factors that led him to where the ended up. Exposure to the wrong sort of online content clearly plays a key role in shaping young people. And that's something we need to tackle together as a society, rather than leaving it all up to individual parents.
Sorry, I didn't mean to suggest that. In fact, from the cases I've read about in real life it seems often that young perpetrators don't come from dysfunctional families. You're right that society needs to grasp the nettle of how to limit the exposure of the wrong type of online content. I'm not sure governments are ready to take a lead on that .
No offence taken! 🤗
Broken kids like Jamie can indeed hail from any kind of family. My aim with the post was to explore how fathers can help their sons build a healthy idea of manhood. I agree that the powers that be have been dragging their feet on regulating tech, though that (thankfully) seems to be changing.