Journal — Gareth Dunt

Department for Caregiver Awareness
02.04.2025

It is generally accepted that there is always a generational gap between parents and their children. And with the constant development of social media and AI, this gap will widen, making it even more challenging for parents to keep up with the trends, habits and inherent dangers their dependants will encounter.

Like many people, I recently watched Adolescence—a four-part mini-series created by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham and directed by Philip Barantini. In my opinion, it’s a masterpiece in every way. However, this post is not a review of the series but rather a reflection on an idea that has been rattling around in my head for some time now.

For those who haven't seen it, the series follows a 13-year-old schoolboy named Jamie Miller, who is arrested for the murder of a girl at his school. As the story unfolds, we learn that he has been drawn into the incel subculture and other dangerous online communities.

As a parent myself, this naturally raised concerns about the impact of these online spaces on my own family.

This leads me to the Department for Caregiver Awareness - a dedicated government team whose sole purpose is to create a single, free monthly email newsletter for parents and caregivers. It would provide an overview of the latest online trends, emerging terminology, and digital movements that parents should be aware of—helping to reduce the generational gap that will persist, even increase, with time.

Furthermore, it would be straightforward to put together, inexpensive to fund, and could have a massive positive impact on parents and their children by keeping families informed and better equipped to navigate the digital world.