When a 13-year-old is accused of the murder of a classmate, his family, therapist and the detective in charge are all left asking: what really happened?
The Netflix series Adolescence has sparked an urgent cultural conversation. Its unflinching portrayal of a 13-year-old boy accused of murder dives into themes of radicalisation, digital overload, and the dangerous influence of online figures. Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised the show, which is now screened in UK schools — and rightly so. It gives a raw, unfiltered glimpse into what can happen when the digital world distorts young minds.
These aren’t just TV themes. They're playing out every day in classrooms, bedrooms, and group chats. If you're a school, parent group, or policymaker looking to unpack the issues of toxic social media, screen time, and adolescent mental health, here are some of the most compelling speakers available right now.
Screentime & Youth Experts
Sophia Smith Galer
Sophia Smith Galer is a compelling speaker on the dangers of screentime, blending her deep understanding of digital media with real-world insights on how platforms like TikTok shape behaviour and wellbeing. As an award-winning journalist and innovator, Sophia has firsthand experience of how screentime can influence everything from political elections to mental health. Her ability to translate complex topics into engaging, accessible content makes her a smart, credible choice for any audience concerned about the impact of digital life.
PepTalk Fact: Sophia’s videos have amassed over 160 million views across platforms📱
⮕ Learn more and book Sophia Smith Galer as a speaker.
Dr Susan Greenfield
Baroness Susan Greenfield is a neuroscientist and author whose research explores how digital technologies affect brain development. She offers clear, science-backed insights into how prolonged screen time can impact attention, empathy, and identity formation, issues central to the challenges facing adolescents today. Her engaging talks help educators and parents understand the neurological risks of a hyper-connected childhood.
PepTalk Fact: Susan once compared digital media’s effects on the brain to climate change, both invisible, but deeply transformative 🧠
⮕ Learn more and book Susan Greenfield
Alex Partridge
Alex Partridge is the founder of UNILAD and LADBible, two of the most influential digital media platforms in the world. He shares compelling personal stories about mental health, ADHD, and the pressures of building online fame, offering a unique inside view of how viral culture affects young people. Alex connects especially well with student and parent audiences by blending humour, vulnerability, and sharp critique of the digital attention economy.
PepTalk Fact: Alex reached over 1 billion people through content he created, before he turned 30 📱
⮕ Learn more and book Alex Partridge
Ziad Ahmed
Ziad Ahmed is a Gen Z entrepreneur and CEO of JUV Consulting, a company that helps brands engage young people authentically. He speaks passionately about how social media both empowers and endangers teens, especially around identity, activism, and mental health. Ziad’s ability to speak as both a digital native and social strategist makes him highly relevant for schools, youth groups, and policy conversations.
PepTalk Fact: Ziad gave a TEDx talk at 19 and he wore a NASA flight suit to do it 🚀
⮕ Learn more and book Ziad Ahmed
Nicola Gunby
Nicola Gunby is the co-founder of CLIQ, a social app designed to help people build meaningful offline connections. Her talks tackle the loneliness and isolation that social media can often amplify, offering practical ideas for tech that builds community instead of eroding it. Nicola brings the fresh perspective of someone actively reshaping how platforms work, with empathy, ethics, and mental health at the core.
PepTalk Fact: Nicola was named one of the UK's top female tech founders before age 30 💡
⮕ Learn more and book Nicola Gunby
Dave Kerpen
Dave Kerpen is a bestselling author and founder of Likeable Media, a company focused on ethical social media strategy. He helps parents and professionals understand how to use social platforms more consciously, and what happens when we don’t. With sharp storytelling and concrete advice, Dave makes complex digital behaviour feel accessible and actionable.
PepTalk Fact: Dave once bartered his wedding for $100,000 in business sponsorship, and it worked 🎤
⮕ Learn more and book Dave Kerpen
Dr Guddi Singh
Guddi Singh is a paediatrician and health advocate who speaks powerfully about how screen time intersects with inequality, child development, and family health. She’s a regular BBC commentator and uses plain, compassionate language to explain what today’s science really tells us about young brains. Guddi is especially effective in school and parent settings where medical insight needs to feel human.
PepTalk Fact: Guddi was one of the creators behind the BBC’s Babies: Their Wonderful World series 👶
⮕ Learn more and book Guddi Singh
Luke Roskell
Luke Roskell is an actor and speaker who shares his personal journey growing up in the spotlight. Having started his career in shows like Emmerdale, Luke offers real talk about the pressures of youth, fame, and always being "on", themes that resonate with screen-saturated teens. His warm, honest delivery connects deeply with both students and adults.
PepTalk Fact: Luke landed his first major TV role at age 14, with no formal acting training 🎬
⮕ Learn more and book Luke Roskell
Josh Connolly
Josh Connolly is a resilience coach and mental health advocate who works with young people across the UK. A regular voice on panels and podcasts, he helps teens, schools, and parents understand the emotional cost of online life—especially when it comes to validation, identity, and stress. Josh blends lived experience with deep emotional intelligence, making his sessions both powerful and practical.
PepTalk Fact: Josh advised on scripts for Hollyoaks to make teen mental health storylines more realistic 🎧
⮕ Learn more and book Josh Connolly
💡 Would you like to discuss these trends with an expert speaker? Let us know, and we’ll find the right PepTalk expert for your organisation. Email us at hello@getapeptalk.com or send us a message via the chat. You can also call us on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US).
