Daniel Kebede, leader of the National Education Union, urges for an investigation into the rising issue of misogyny among young men, attributing it significantly to their access to aggressive content online, and calls for tech companies to be held accountable.
Daniel Kebede, the leader of the National Education Union (NEU) in the UK, has called for an independent inquiry into the increasing problem of misogyny among young men, attributing it significantly to the easy access they have to aggressive pornography via smartphones. Kebede, reflecting on his experiences with female students who have suffered abuse and violence, expressed his concerns about the influence of such content on boys’ views of women and relationships, and urged the government to make tech companies accountable for the content they allow.
This call to action is part of a broader concern raised by the NEU regarding the rise of sexism in schools, linked to the damaging effects of certain online content, including “aggressive and violent pornography” and harmful influencer culture. The NEU highlighted the issue ahead of discussions at their conference in Bournemouth, pointing out the negative impact this content has on young individuals, including altered perceptions of women, unrealistic body image standards, and a rise in derogatory behavior and language in educational settings.
The issue is underpinned by reports from educators like Kaspar Zeta-Skeet, who observed a worrying trend among teenagers to view women as objects. The problematic consumption of social media is believed to contribute to harmful stereotypes and ideals of toxic masculinity, impacting the behavior and self-esteem of young people.
In response to these pressing concerns, Kebede has welcomed proposals by Labour for mentoring programs in schools but emphasized the necessity for more robust actions, such as regulation of tech companies and tighter controls on social media access to shield young people from harmful content. The government has pointed to measures in the upcoming Online Safety Act designed to protect children online, acknowledging the importance of schools in combating sexual misconduct and harassment.
The NEU’s call for an inquiry and subsequent action reflects a growing awareness and concern over the role of digital content in shaping young people’s attitudes towards women and relationships, underscoring the need for a collaborative effort to address these issues at both educational and legislative levels.
