My Teenager Wants to Watch Euphoria: What Should I Do?

Does your teen want to watch Euphoria but you're worried about exposure to sex, violence, and drug content? We'll guide you in this regard.

If you have a teenager at home, you’re probably aware of the existence of Euphoria, one of the most controversial series of recent times. The scenes relate a crude and explicit reality, one with which many young people identify but which alarms and worries parents. What should I do if my teenager wants to watch Euphoria? Do I allow it or try to avoid it? In the following article, we’ll try to answer these questions.

First of all, it’s important to understand why this HBO® series has managed to win over young audiences and produce so much expectation. Everything is taken care of in great detail, from the choice of the cast to the soundtrack and the visual aesthetics.

Euphoria delves into the dramas and concerns of adolescence and does so without a filter, without sweetening the scene,s and immersing itself in the emotionality of the characters.

All these ingredients make it an extremely attractive production for young people. Now, is it positive for your teenager to watch this series? We’ll tell you more about it so you can decide.

Euphoria: The series that portrays a reality

Euphoria tells the story of a group of high school students and tries to reflect on all the difficulties they face every day. Through the lives of its characters, it addresses extremely complex, important, and profound themes, such as the following:

• Drug addiction and the recovery process.
• Mental health and associated problems.
• Sexual relations during adolescence and the consumption of pornography.
• Identity conflicts and sexual diversity.
• The dangers of overexposure to the internet and the abuse of social media.
• The emotional intensity of adolescence.

What happens is that, for parents, this may sound exaggerated or far-fetched, as it’s very different from the adolescence that they themselves lived.

However, we can’t ignore that times have changed and that these are the issues that our young people live with today. Looking the other way won’t stop this from being the case.

My teenager wants to watch Euphoria: Should I allow it?

A truth that all parents should keep in mind is that adolescence is a time of negotiation. Forbidding something strictly is useless: This only leads to rejection, resentment, and rebellion in the minor who will want to do what was prohibited even more than before.

Perhaps this series isn’t one that we would recommend to our children, but if they show interest, if it’s what their entire group of friends is talking about, then it’s better to negotiate.

Of course, the reticence is understandable, as Euphoria shows violence, drugs, explicit sex, complete nudity, and multiple shocking scenes.

We can’t deny that it’s essential to take care of the audiovisual content that young people consume. If these types of scenes aren’t understood and interpreted correctly, they can be quite harmful. What the series shows is, without a doubt, the reality of some young people, but of course not that of all of them, and this must be clarified. Otherwise, it can send a distorted image of youth.

The most advisable thing is to focus on consuming positive models and stories that narrate what you want to live and what you want to imitate. In this case, Euphoria is the complete opposite. However, the series has several points in its favor.

Why should your teen watch Euphoria?

Despite the above, the truth is that this series deals with highly relevant issues that your child may face or is facing at the moment.

Watching the series can make many adolescents identify with the characters and situations that appear while helping them understand and reflect on these realities. And above all, you need to understand the importance of creating a space for dialogue about it.

Therefore, we suggest not prohibiting your teenager from watching Euphoria, but do take some measures in this regard.

If my teenager wants to watch Euphoria, I can take this as an opportunity

First of all, take into account the age of your child. The series is rated for ages 17+, so this recommendation should be taken into account. If your son is younger, try to negotiate and suggest they watch it when they’re older. But if they insist, make sure you watch it with them.

This is an excellent opportunity to spend quality time with your child and to open communication channels. Even if the series isn’t to your interest or liking, watching it together will allow you to get to know your child better and talk with them about various important issues that may concern them. Likewise, help them reflect on what they see on the screen.

Perhaps in these moments, your child feels encouraged to share with you experiences and feelings that you didn’t know they had. But, for this, it’s important that you remain calm and show an open and non-judgmental attitude. Watching the series to criticize it openly isn’t a good idea; instead, take the opportunity to observe your child’s reactions.

In short, Euphoria is a hit with young people and it’s the task of parents to offer the conditions so that seeing it is positive and constructive. Get closer to the world of your teenager to be able to support, listen, and guide them when they need it.