Unchosen is the kind of show that will have your teen glued to their phone checking for notifications while simultaneously being terrified of them, and honestly, it earns its TV-MA rating with some pretty heavy psychological manipulation and a vibe that makes Black Mirror look like a sitcom. It’s a high-stakes, "social-media-gone-wrong" thriller that’s definitely not for the middle school crowd, but for older teens, it’s a gripping (if cynical) look at how much power we give the algorithms in our pockets.
TL;DR
Unchosen is a dark psychological thriller on Netflix starring Asa Butterfield that explores a near-future high school where an app dictates students' social roles with life-altering consequences. Screenwise rates this show for ages 15+ due to intense themes of bullying, mental health struggles, and psychological suspense. If your teen enjoyed Black Mirror or Squid Game, they’ll likely be obsessed with this, but parents should be prepared for some heavy conversations about digital identity and peer pressure.
Watch the official Netflix trailer:
Set in the very near future, Unchosen follows a group of students at an elite high school who are forced to participate in a mandatory "social leveling" app. The catch? You don't get to choose your profile, your interests, or even your friends—the app chooses them for you based on "optimal societal contribution."
Screenwise Parents
See allAsa Butterfield plays a student assigned the role of an "Outcast," and the show quickly devolves from a social experiment into a survival thriller as the students realize that falling out of favor with the app's algorithm has real-world physical and financial consequences for their families. It’s a biting critique of our current obsession with data and social credit, wrapped in a glossy, suspenseful package that feels very "of the moment" in 2026.
If you’ve heard your teen talking about "social credit" or saying something is "so Ohio" (meaning weird or cringey), they are already primed for the world of Unchosen. The show taps into the very real anxiety that Gen Z and Gen Alpha feel about their digital footprints.
Teens love this show because it validates their feeling that the digital world is a high-stakes game they didn't ask to play. It’s "peak" suspense—every episode ends on a cliffhanger, and the aesthetic is very "dark academia meets Silicon Valley." Plus, Asa Butterfield brings that same awkward-but-earnest energy we loved in Sex Education, making the high-concept plot feel grounded and personal.
Let’s be real: Netflix knows exactly how to trigger our dopamine loops, and Unchosen is designed to be binged. From a production standpoint, it’s top-tier. The acting is great, and the writing avoids most of the "fellow kids" dialogue cringey-ness that usually plagues teen dramas.
However, as a parent, you need to know that this show is bleak. It doesn't offer a lot of hope in the first few episodes. It’s a cynical look at human nature under pressure. If your teen is currently struggling with social anxiety or feels overwhelmed by their Instagram or TikTok presence, this show might actually amplify those feelings rather than provide an escape. Screenwise gives it a WISE score of 62/100—it’s high on engagement but requires some serious parental scaffolding to process the "everything is terrible" themes.
When we talk about "intense themes," we aren't just talking about a jump scare or two. Here’s the breakdown of what’s actually in the show:
Psychological Manipulation
The entire plot revolves around gaslighting and social isolation. Characters are forced to betray their real-life friends to maintain their "app status." This can be more upsetting for some teens than actual physical violence.
Language and Maturity
The dialogue is realistic for 17-year-olds, which means there’s plenty of profanity. It’s not gratuitous, but it’s constant. There are also subplots involving teen relationships that lean into mature territory, though it’s less explicit than Euphoria.
Mental Health Warnings
There are depictions of self-harm ideation and extreme bullying. The "Unchosen" app essentially gamifies social destruction. If your family has a history of dealing with these topics, you’ll definitely want to watch this with your teen or skip it entirely.
Instead of just handing over the remote, use Unchosen as a springboard for some pretty interesting dinner table talk. You don't have to be "preachy" to get them thinking.
- The Algorithm vs. Reality: Ask them, "If an app told you that your best friend was a 'low-value' connection, would it actually change how you felt about them?"
- Digital Permanence: The show deals with how hard it is to delete your past. Talk about the "right to be forgotten" and how they feel about their own digital trails.
- The 'Why' of the Villain: Without giving away spoilers, the creator of the app thinks they are "fixing" society. Ask your teen if they think social media could ever actually be "fixed" by better code.
If your 12 or 13-year-old is begging to watch Unchosen because everyone at school is talking about it, but you aren't ready for the "existential dread" talk, try these instead:
- For the "Tech Mystery" vibe: The Mysterious Benedict Society offers great puzzles and teamwork without the nihilism.
- For the "Social Hierarchy" commentary: The Hunger Games book or the movies are still the gold standard for "teens vs. the system."
- For a total brain-reset: If they need a "palette cleanser" after something this intense, suggest a few rounds of Stardew Valley or Animal Crossing. Sometimes you just need to farm some digital turnips to feel okay again.
Q: What age is Unchosen appropriate for? Unchosen is best suited for older teens, ages 15 and up. While younger teens may be drawn to the high-school setting and the tech-focused plot, the psychological intensity and themes of social isolation are quite heavy for middle schoolers.
Q: Is Unchosen ok for a 13 year old? For most 13-year-olds, Unchosen might be a bit too intense. It deals with sophisticated themes of systemic manipulation and features significant "mature" language and bullying that can be distressing for younger viewers. If you do allow it, Screenwise recommends watching the first two episodes together to gauge their reaction.
Q: What are the content warnings for Unchosen? The show contains frequent profanity, depictions of severe bullying, psychological gaslighting, and themes related to mental health struggles and self-harm ideation. It is rated TV-MA for a reason, primarily due to the maturity of its psychological themes rather than just "blood and guts."
Q: Is Unchosen similar to Squid Game? Yes, in the sense that it involves a "game" with high stakes and social commentary, but Unchosen is much more focused on digital identity and social media than physical survival. It’s more of a "mental survival" thriller.
Unchosen is a well-made, thought-provoking thriller that will definitely be the "water cooler" talk of the high school hallway this month. It’s not "brain rot"—it’s actually quite smart—but it is incredibly intense. If your teen is mature enough to handle the darker side of social commentary, it’s a great show to watch and discuss together. Just maybe follow it up with something a little lighter, like a family game of Catan, to remind everyone that real-life human connection is way better than anything an app can assign you.
Check out our full guide on managing teen social media anxiety