Boys 'need role models to combat online misogyny'

The Mayor of London has been urged to champion "relatable, positive male role models" to counter misogynistic attitudes that boys see online.

The London Assembly's committee on police and crime said Sir Sadiq Khan should create an information campaign to combat messages from influencers who share content that is anti-women.

The recommendation is made in a report by the committee and comes in the wake of increasing concerns about what boys see on social media and on the internet.

A spokesperson for the mayor said he welcomed the report and added that "we must do all we can to counter the pernicious influence of those who preach misogyny online".

The recent Netflix drama Adolescence painted a shocking portrait of a 13-year-old boy radicalised by misogyny online.

It led to calls for better role models from the drama's creators, a call backed by the former England men's football manager Sir Gareth Southgate.

In March the prime minister told the makers of the drama that it was "really hard to watch" with his teenage children, as he hosted a Downing Street meeting to discuss the influence of toxic online influences.

The London Assembly committee's report A New Era: The impact of violence against women and girls (VAWG) on young people, was published on Tuesday.

Susan Hall AM, who chairs the committee, said "combating online hate across social media channels and from online influencers and promoting positive male role models to our young boys are essential".

She added: "But parents must be provided with all of the information.

"We heard of the generational divide between parents and their children, and helping parents understand exactly what their children have access to on their phones can make a huge difference."

The committee has recommended that the mayor commission a Parent Toolkit to support them in teaching their children about healthy relationships from a young age, based on the model for the existing School Toolkit.

A 2021 review by education regulator Ofcom found sexual harassment in schools had become commonplace, with 90% of girls and 50% of boys reporting that they had received explicit pictures or videos of content they did not want to see.

The committee said preventative education "is the most important tool for tackling violence against women and girls, as it challenges the harmful and misogynistic attitudes that sit behind the current epidemic in violence".

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said in October 2024 he launched the new toolkit for every primary school in the city.

It uses workshops, drama and interactive sessions in the classroom to champion "healthy and respectful relationships and attitudes" among young Londoners aged nine to 11.

They also said the mayor's "Say Maaate To A Mate" campaign launched in 2022, empowered men and boys to say "Maaate" to their mates as a means of challenging sexism and misogyny in society.

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