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From ‘Adolescence’ to Action: Using Storytelling to Build Empathy
- Anisha Vadher
- Mar 26
- 5 min read
The Power of Perspective
Adolescence. Everyone is talking about it. Empathy? Not so much.
Netflix’s new drama series Adolescence has sparked widespread discussion amongst many, dissecting its portrayal of toxic masculinity, online radicalisation, and the extreme failures of safeguarding. However, one crucial aspect of the show that has been (so far) overlooked is how the series itself models empathy-building. Through immersive storytelling and cinematographic choices, Adolescence compels viewers to understand both victims and perpetrators — taking us on a journey through the lived experience of a young boy, a student community, a psychologist, police officers, parents and a family.
The Case for Storytelling as an Empathy Tool
Films have long been a medium for shifting perspectives, and making societal issues tangible and personal. Adolescence serves as a case study in how creative storytelling can elicit profound emotional responses, pushing viewers to engage with uncomfortable realities. From the very first episode, the series reminds us of something very important: That everyone has different things going on in their lives. One particularly striking moment is when, amidst the unfolding crisis, the police officer calls his wife to check whether his son made it to school. This scene highlights how personal concerns persist even within intense situations—a powerful reminder that empathy requires understanding the full context of people’s lives.
Moreover, the show’s cinematography plays a key role in fostering empathy. Scenes are shot directly from the perspectives of the characters, offering an intimate window into their experiences and, crucially, in one take with no breaks mimicking real time and real life. The camera lingers on each character, allowing viewers to pause and reflect on what they might be feeling. This technique mirrors educational storytelling exercises that help students break down emotions and develop empathy through narrative immersion.
The Issues Raised in Adolescence & How Empathy Can Combat Them
The series does not shy away from difficult topics:
Toxic masculinity and incel culture – A lot of boys feel lost and end up drawn to harmful ideas about masculinity. Instead of shutting them down, we need to help them build emotional intelligence and find healthier ways to understand themselves and why they may be feeling this way.
Social media and online radicalisation – The internet can be a dangerous echo chamber, making extreme ideas seem normal. Teaching students how to question what they see online—and how to understand their emotions as a result—gives them the tools to think for themselves and develop emotional understanding.
Gender relations and emotional isolation – Boys are often told to “man up” instead of being encouraged to express their emotions. We, as a society, can create safe spaces where young people feel comfortable talking about relationships, vulnerability, and mental health.
Conflict and aggression – Some young men feel like they have to prove themselves through violence or aggression. By focusing on empathy and emotional awareness we can help them find better ways to express themselves and handle conflict.
From Awareness to Action
The conversations sparked by Adolescence are important—but let’s be real, none of this is new to anyone working in education. The real challenge isn’t just fixing things after the fact; it’s about prevention. It’s about making sure boys, and all young people, don’t feel they have to seek belonging in harmful places in the first place.
Empathy isn’t just a warm, fuzzy feeling—it’s a skill to understand yourself and others. And right now, it’s a skill that too many young people are missing out on. Schools have a huge role to play here. We can’t just treat empathy as an afterthought; it needs to be at the heart of how we teach, connect, and support students.
What Can We Actually Do?
🧡 Make love a priority – Sounds cheesy? Maybe. But when boys feel unseen, unheard, or unvalued, they look for validation elsewhere. We need to celebrate who they are, what they care about, and the effort they put in—beyond just grades and rankings.
📊 Rethink social capital – Not everyone can be the star athlete, the top student, or the “coolest” kid in school. But that’s okay. The real goal? Helping students see value in themselves, no matter where they “rank” socially.
🫶🏼 Build self-esteem – This is the game-changer. Social capital is based on what others think of you. Self-esteem is about knowing your own worth, regardless of outside opinions. Instead of chasing external validation, let’s focus on self-capital—giving young people the tools to believe in themselves.
Let’s Get Practical:
🎥 Use storytelling – Films, books, personal narratives of real people —these help students to experience different viewpoints, see role models that they can relate to, and broaden their understanding of the world.
🗣 Create space for real talk – Open, honest discussions on masculinity, online influence, and emotional well-being have to be part of school culture. Our previous blog on the Future of Jobs Report 2025 has lots of practical tips on how to do this in the classroom.
🤝 Encourage active empathy – Give students opportunities to engage with real-world issues, take action, and make a difference.
💻 Distinguishing disinformation & facts – The internet can be a minefield. Students need to learn how to think critically, question narratives, and stay in control of what they consume.
The ‘Fact vs Perspective’ exercise helps by having students analyse news, history, or social media posts to distinguish facts from opinions. Questions like ‘Who is telling this story?’, and ‘what might be missing?’ deepen their thinking. Rewriting from another perspective enhances understanding and builds empathy. If you are interested in learning more about this, check out Jody Jackson’s book ‘You Are What You Read’.
So, over to you — how is your school building empathy into education? Let’s keep the conversation going because this isn’t about quick fixes—it’s about long-term change. Let’s make this change happen together.
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First time hearing of us?
Empathy Studios is an education and creative studio that develops the skill of empathy through the power of film. We’re a team made up of qualified teachers and professional filmmakers with over 10 years of experience in education and 5+ years directly building the skill of empathy. Our whole-school social-emotional learning programme helps schools to support students in developing the skill of empathy, using a research-backed framework from the University of Cambridge. Learn more about The Empathy Programme here and get a free trial pack for ages 5-18 here.
