Anna Hartz
‘They Won’t Speak to Me Because I’m a Woman,’ Says Teacher
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Social media is everywhere. Kids are growing up with phones in their hands and influencers in their ears.
But not all of these influences are positive. In the UK, many teachers say they’re seeing a real problem take shape in classrooms.
According to a new study, online figures like Andrew Tate are making sexism worse among students, reports Ziare.
The research was done by NASUWT, a UK education union. They asked over 5,800 teachers about what they’ve seen in their schools.
A large number of them said that social media is causing more bad behavior.
Many also said influencers are pushing harmful ideas, especially about women.
Andrew Tate was mentioned many times in the study. One teacher said 10-year-old boys refused to talk to her because she’s a woman.
Another said male students at an all-boys school started treating both women and less “masculine” men differently after watching Tate’s videos.
A third teacher said that female staff were being insulted directly because of what students saw in Tate’s content.
These teachers believe that content from influencers is shaping how boys see women and themselves.
Some say it’s even bringing hateful language and attitudes into the classroom.
The findings were shared at NASUWT’s yearly conference in Liverpool.
One of the topics being discussed is how to help teachers handle the growing impact of far-right and misogynistic ideas spreading online.
This issue is also getting attention from political leaders.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently met with the creators of the Netflix series “Adolescence” to talk about ways to protect boys from being drawn into what he called a “vortex of hate.”
Even Kemi Badenoch, a Conservative MP, shared a personal story. Her young cousin took his own life after being pulled into toxic online communities.
She said she now worries deeply about what kids are seeing on social media.
Teachers’ union leader Patrick Roach said teachers need help. He warned that they shouldn’t be expected to deal with this alone.