The actor, inspired by Netflix’s adolescence to cut screen time and pushed offline bonding with his son.
Ashley Walters, star of the Netflix sensation Adolescence, says the series profoundly changed how he parents—so much so that one of his sons now goes half a week without touching a device.
Speaking to Men’s Health UK, the actor revealed that filming the dark drama prompted him to reevaluate his children’s digital habits. “No one wants to be the ogre parent,” said the 42-year-old, best known for roles in Top Boy and Bullet Boy. “But Adolescence made me say, ‘F*** that. This matters.’”
In the critically acclaimed series, Walters plays DI Luke Bascombe, a detective investigating the chilling murder of a teenage girl by a classmate. With its exploration of misogyny, incel culture, and online radicalisation, the show became Netflix’s second biggest English-language hit of all time. But its impact, according to Walters, extends far beyond streaming charts.
“You get caught up trying to let your kids be like everyone else,” he admitted. “But this show gave parents permission to start hard conversations.”
At home, those conversations became actions. Walters, who has eight children from three relationships—including two with current wife and fellow actor Danielle Walters—described how he’s scaled back his son’s time online. One child, a budding animator, spends hours with animation software on his iPad. But the actor said he grew suspicious that not all that time was productive.
Embed from Getty Images“He’s supposed to be animating,” Walters said. “But sometimes he’s not doing what he says he’s doing. We’ve had to get strict.”
Strict means clear boundaries: “Half the week, he can’t even touch his device.” Instead, Walters has stepped in with real-world alternatives. “Let’s go fishing. Let’s get outdoors. Let’s do more stuff. So he’s not as drawn to the screen.”
Walters credits Adolescence for prompting this shift. “Around the world, this show has made people say: ‘OK, this is serious.’ And I think that’s a good thing.”
The show, released earlier this year, has sparked global debate over toxic masculinity and children’s access to misogynistic content. France has even introduced Adolescence into its school curriculum to teach teenagers about online harm and incel ideology.
Asked if he would return for a second season, Walters said he’d “love to,” but predicted a fresh direction: “I think it would be with completely different characters and a different story.”
Meanwhile, the influence of Adolescence continues at home. Walters insists he’s not against screen time—but wants it used wisely. “We’re really about uplifting the things they love,” he said. “But there’s a difference between loving tech and being consumed by it.”
The father of eight is vocal about his evolving role as a parent in the digital age. “It’s not about control,” he said. “It’s about connection. Being present. That’s what I’m aiming for.”
The star believes the conversation is just beginning. “If Adolescence helped people open their eyes, then I’m proud to have been part of it.”
