Mother praises Netflix drama for addressing bad influencers

Leeann White, the mother of murdered schoolgirl Ava White, has praised the Netflix drama "Adolescence" for addressing the impact of bad influencers on social media. White believes the show effectively highlights the dangers that young people face online. However, she criticized some media outlets for linking her daughter's tragic case to the drama's storyline. Ava was killed in November 2021 by a 14-year-old boy after a dispute over a Snapchat video. The boy was sentenced to life in prison. White emphasized that the drama is not about Ava but focuses on the perpetrator. She expressed her frustration over Ava's name being mentioned alongside the show. Although watching the series was emotionally difficult, she felt it was important to engage with it due to the ongoing discussions surrounding her daughter's case. White noted that the show's creators, including writer Jack Thorne and actor Stephen Graham, had not connected the drama to Ava's story. She commended "Adolescence" for shining a light on the serious issues of social media influence and figures like Andrew Tate, suggesting that this kind of awareness is crucial for protecting young people.