"Adolescence", the Netflix hit series about a British 13-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of a horrifying crime, has intensified the anxiety of parents worried about toxic and misogynistic influences young people are exposed to online.

In living rooms up and down the country or over a cup of tea or coffee at the office, the crime drama -- on which Hollywood A-lister Brad Pitt worked as an executive producer -- has got people talking.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer told parliament he was watching it at home with his kids.

"Adolescence" tells the story of schoolboy Jamie whose family is thrown into turmoil when armed police smash down the door of his suburban home and arrest him in a dawn raid.

The four-part mini-series released on March 13 had 24.3 million views in its first four days, making it Netflix's top show for the week of March 10-16, according to entertainment industry bible Variety.

One question hangs over the entire series: could this angelic-looking young boy really commit such a savage crime?

The series has resonated with an audience increasingly disturbed by a litany of shocking knife crimes committed by young people and........

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