Writing for Young Adults: Who Gets It Right?

Stories about young people are more visible than ever. Yet the question of who they are truly made for remains unresolved as is the question of authenticity. What is often labelled as “Young Adult” tends to prioritise tone, style, and market appeal; sometimes at the expense of genuine insight into young people’s lived experiences.

In this panel, creators including Bryan Elsley (Skins), Kirsten Loose (Club der roten Bänder), and Lia Zebra (From Mermaids to Lovers) explore what it means to tell stories for young audiences today. How close can and should writers get to lived realities? Where does observation end and projection begin? And to what extent are globally successful shows like EUPHORIA less a reflection of youth culture than a stylised fantasy shaped for older viewers?

The discussion asks a fundamental question if the industry truly listens to young audiences or speaks about them from the outside?