Digital Influence and the Search for Identity
Online platforms can create an illusion of instant success and perfection, presenting unattainable ideals that leave many boys and young men feeling isolated and insecure. Toxic influencers like Andrew Tate expose boys to seemingly harmless content that gradually escalates to extreme misogynistic views, leading to concerning behavioural changes, including reports of violence against girls and young women, as recreated in the recent Netflix series ‘Adolescence’.
A compassionate approach is essential to ensure boys feel part of the solution, not the problem. This requires creating safe spaces for emotional expression, genuinely listening, and providing support that goes beyond traditional intervention methods. Schools, parents, and communities must collaborate to offer alternative narratives of success that prioritise character, empathy, and personal growth.
The core challenge lies in developing comprehensive digital literacy and critical thinking skills. Education must empower young people to assess content critically, understand algorithmic manipulation, and question online information's credibility. Many young men feel increasingly isolated and confused, withdrawing from social interactions and seeking direction through potentially harmful online content that promises simple solutions to complex emotional challenges.
Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) plays a crucial role in helping young people develop healthy interpersonal skills and positive self-identity. By introducing positive role models and challenging harmful stereotypes, educators can provide tools for building meaningful relationships. The goal is to teach respect for differences, recognise bullying, and act as active bystanders. This takes time and can’t be achieved through knee-jerk reactions involving forcing boys across the country to watch ‘Adolescence’, in the hope this will have the impact we are looking for.
It’s vital to adopt a whole-school approach that has at its heart a culture of respect and inclusivity. Staff training should focus on facilitating conversations about what helpful and destructive behaviours look like, identifying harmful attitudes, and providing positive role models. Toxic online influencers appeal to boys by presenting an image of wealth and power, but educators and parents must offer alternative examples of success based on authenticity, mutual respect and positive human values.
The rise of digital influencers underscores the importance of proactive education around digital literacy, relationships, and critical thinking. Not all online spaces are negative and some can provide an important lifeline to marginalised groups. The ultimate objective is to help boys and young men navigate modern masculinity with understanding and hope. This requires ongoing dialogue, active listening, and a commitment to understanding the unique challenges faced by young people in the digital age.
By working together, parents, educators, and communities can support a generation of men who are emotionally intelligent, respectful, and capable of forming healthy relationships. The path forward involves understanding root causes, providing positive alternatives, and creating supportive environments that nurture personal growth and genuine connection.
Further support for teachers and parents is available from the children’s mental health charity, Nip in the Bud:
Smartphones and social media fact sheet
How to move towards a smartphone free childhood
Mental Health Foundation: