Social media influencers ‘fuelling misogyny in schools’

22 April 2025, 11:34

Social media apps displayed on a mobile phone screen
Government should ban phones in schools. Picture: PA

Teacher members of the NASUWT union have reported that Andrew Tate is having a negative influence on male pupils.

Social media influencers such as Andrew Tate are fuelling an increase in misogyny and sexism in schools, teachers have suggested.

Nearly three in five (59%) teachers said they believe social media use has contributed to a deterioration in pupils’ behaviour in schools, according to a poll by the NASUWT teaching union.

The survey, of more than 5,800 NASUWT members in the UK in January, suggests that teachers think social media is the number one cause of negative pupil behaviour.

We had some incidents in school with derogatory language towards female staff (e.g. boys barking at female staff and blocking doorways so they couldn't leave the classroom), as a direct result of Andrew Tate videos

Teacher's response in survey

The findings have been released during the NASUWT’s annual conference in Liverpool over the Easter weekend.

Delegates at the conference on Saturday voted through a motion which suggested that far-right and populist movements have shifted their recruitment on to social media, messaging and online gaming platforms.

The motion, which was passed without debate, called on the union’s executive to work with teachers “to assess the risk that far-right and populist movements pose to young people”.

It added that the union should work with the Government “to support teachers in challenging far-right and populist narratives” presented to young people.

A number of teachers who responded to the NASUWT’s survey on behaviour referenced the negative influence that Tate has had on male pupils.

One teacher said: “I have had boys refuse to speak to me and speak to a male teaching assistant instead because I am a woman and they follow Andrew Tate and think he is amazing with all his cars and women and how women should be treated. These were 10-year-olds.”

Another said: “In an all-boys school, low socio-economic area, the ‘Andrew Tate’ phenomena had a huge impact on how they interacted with females and males they did not see as ‘masculine’.”

One teacher said: “We had some incidents in school with derogatory language towards female staff (e.g. boys barking at female staff and blocking doorways so they couldn’t leave the classroom), as a direct result of Andrew Tate videos.”

Misogyny, racism and other forms of prejudice and hatred may have attracted greater media attention of late, but it is clear from our data that these behaviours are not a recent phenomenon

Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT

Another said: “In a secondary English class last year, a group of boys opted, despite discouragement, to write a persuasive essay on why Andrew Tate is the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) which included praise of his view that women are a man’s property (…) all of the parents were contacted and were appalled.”

One teacher said: “A lot of the students are influenced by Tate and Trump, they spout racist, homophobic, transphobic and sexist comments in every conversation and don’t believe there will be consequences.”

On Friday, Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT, reflected on the violence last summer – after the murder of three girls at a dance class in Southport – which he said was sparked by “extremists on social media”.

The union leader warned that the events last summer “won’t be the last” unless protective measures were taken.

A motion, passed by delegates at the NASUWT’s conference on Friday, said the impact of the violent disturbances last summer “continues to impact school and college communities” and places their safety and security “at risk”.

Television drama Adolescence, which examines so-called incel (involuntary celibate) culture, has prompted a national conversation about online safety.

Last month, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said there was no “simple solution” to stop boys from being dragged into a “whirlpool” of misogyny as he hosted creators of the Netflix drama at Downing Street.

Mr Roach said: “Misogyny, racism and other forms of prejudice and hatred may have attracted greater media attention of late, but it is clear from our data that these behaviours are not a recent phenomenon.

“There is an urgent need for concerted action involving schools, colleges and other agencies to safeguard all children and young people from the dangerous influence of far-right populists and extremists and to ensure that our schools and colleges are safe places for learners and for staff.

“Teachers cannot be left alone to deal with these problems.

“We need a multi-agency response to improve social media literacy, critical thinking skills, and to expose disinformation and false narratives.

“We are urging the Government to lead a national effort to tackle the root causes of poverty and deprivation and keep children safe online.”

A Department for Education (DfE) spokesperson said: “We know the rise of dangerous influencers is having a damaging impact on our children, which is why are supporting the sector in their crucial role building young people’s resilience to extremism as part of our Plan for Change.

“Education can be the antidote to hate, and the classroom should be a safe environment for sensitive topics to be discussed and where critical thinking is encouraged.

“That’s why we provide a range of resources to support teachers to navigate these challenging issues, and why our curriculum review will look at the skills children need to thrive in a fast-changing online world.

“This is on top of wider protections being brought in for children with the Online Safety Act, to ensure children have an age-appropriate experience online.”

The Liberal Democrats said the results were “shocking, but should come as no surprise” and showed the need to “cut addictive algorithms off at their source”.

“Toxic algorithms are pushing many children into dark corners of the internet, where sinister attitudes that cause terrible harm in the real world — including in our schools — are free to develop,” the party’s education, children and families spokeswoman Munira Wilson said.

The party is calling for a safer screens task force to be set up and for money from fines for breaching the Online Safety Act to be reinvested into safer screens education in schools.

By Press Association

More Technology News

See more More Technology News

People ride an upward escalator next to the Dior store at the Icon Siam shopping mall on June 12, 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Luxury fashion giant Dior latest high-profile retailer to be hit by cyber attack as customer data accessed

A plane spotter with binoculars from behind watching a British Airways plane landing

‘Flying taxis’ could appear in UK skies as early as 2028, minister says

Apple App Store

Take on Apple and Google to boost UK economy, think tank says

A survey of more than 1,000 employers found that around one in eight thought AI would give them a competitive edge and would lead to fewer staff.

One in three employers believe AI will boost productivity, research finds

Hands on a laptop showing an AI search

One in three employers believe AI will boost productivity, research finds

Music creators and politicians take part in a protest calling on the Government to ditch plans to allow AI tech firms to steal their work without payment or permission opposite the Houses of Parliament in London.

Creatives face a 'kind-of apocalyptic moment’ over AI concerns, minister says

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary on Lake Victoria, Uganda

Chimps use medicinal plants to treat each other's wounds and practice 'self-care' as scientists hail fascinating discovery

Close up of a person's hands on the laptop keyboard

Ofcom investigating pornography site over alleged Online Safety Act breaches

The Monzo app on a smartphone

Monzo customers can cancel bank transfers if they quickly spot an error

Co-op sign

Co-op to re-stock empty shelves as it recovers from major hack

The study said that it was often too easy for adult strangers to pick out girls online and send them unsolicited messages.

Social media platforms are failing to protect women and girls from harm, new research reveals

Peter Kyle leaves 10 Downing Street, London

Government-built AI tool used to cut admin work for human staff

In its last reported annual headcount in June 2024, Microsoft employed 228,000 full-time workers

Microsoft axes 6,000 jobs despite strong profits in recent quarters

Airbnb logo

Airbnb unveils revamp as it expands ‘beyond stays’ to challenge hotel sector

A car key on top of a Certificate of Motor Insurance and Policy Schedule

Drivers losing thousands to ghost broker scams – the red flags to watch out for

Marks and Spencer cyber attack

M&S customers urged to ‘stay vigilant’ for fraud after data breach confirmed