‘Adolescence’ Co-Creator Signs Smartphone Free Childhood Pact: “Terrified Of What Comes Next”​on March 23, 2025 at 4:08 pm

As Adolescence sheds light on the growing online radicalization of young men, Jack Thorne is attempting to make a difference.

The co-creator/writer of the Netflix crime drama limited series has joined more than 100,000 signatories of the Smartphone Free Childhood group’s Parent Pact, which asks parents to delay giving kids of a “critical age” the device until they’re 16.

“I think SFC is a remarkable group and the parent pact is a remarkable idea,” said Thorne, according to The Guardian. “I know it’s one that I’m going to engage in as our kid reaches the critical age of smartphone want. I am terrified of what comes next and think empowering parents is a vital ingredient in this struggle.”

Thorne, who has an 8-year old son, joins celebs like Benedict Cumberbatch, Paloma Faith and Emma Barnett in signing the pact that launched in September, along with more than 11,500 schools in the UK.

Co-created with star Stephen Graham, the four-part series uses a daring one-shot for each episode to call attention to widespread reports of young boys involved in knife crimes. Leading Netflix’s charts in its debut week, Adolescence is not based on one specific case, but the series stars Owen Cooper as 13-year old Jamie Miller, who is arrested for the murder of a girl at his school.

“The big question was why is violence from young men or boys towards young women or girls going up? Why is this happening?” Thorne previously told Deadline. “Looking into it and trying to pose that question as fulsomely as possible, without providing easy answers, was the aim that Stephen [Graham] and I set out on years ago.”

Thorne added, “I hope what we’ve done is shine a light on an area which has been talked about but not looked at. This is an issue that everyone has been aware of, but discovering it through Jamie is something we’ve been set on capturing. That people are excited to watch and understand Jamie, and try to understand the issue through Jamie, is rewarding.”