The rise of harmful content on children’s phones is contributing to an increase in sexism in schools, says the National Education Union’s (NEU) general secretary, Daniel Kebede. Boys are exposed to “aggressive and violent pornography” and influencer content that “distorts their view of women,” Kebede said, calling for an inquiry to challenge social media companies. This comes as teachers at the NEU conference prepare to debate the impact of online misogyny in the classroom.
According to Kaspar Zeta-Skeet, some teenagers have an “assumption” that “women are things just to be observed,” while Nina Darkowa has heard 12 and 13-year-olds talking about future plastic surgeries. Girls can also struggle to distinguish when images have been manipulated through artificial intelligence. Kebede emphasizes that the issue is serious, and that big tech has a responsibility to tackle it.
The government’s Online Safety Act, which became law in October 2021, requires tech companies to protect children from harmful content on the internet. The Department for Education expects schools to take action against sexual misconduct or harassment and issued guidance on banning mobile phones in schools in February. Mental health charity Young Minds emphasized the “importance” of social media for young people to socialize, but also said that they can feel trapped by algorithms. The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) urged the government to implement the Online Safety Act ambitiously.
Kebede stresses that the seriousness of the issue means individual parents or schools can’t solve the problem alone. It requires big tech companies to take responsibility. A parliamentary inquiry is necessary to address the issue further
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