Teachers are raising alarms about the growing influence of social media figures like Andrew Tate, linking this trend to a rise in misogyny and sexism in schools. According to a recent survey conducted by the NASUWT teaching union, nearly 59% of over 5,800 teachers polled in January believe that social media has significantly contributed to a decline in student behaviour. The findings indicate that teachers see social media as the leading factor behind negative behaviours in schools.
These concerns are being addressed at the NASUWT’s annual conference in Liverpool, held over the Easter weekend. One of the motions up for debate points to far-right and populist movements increasingly using social media, messaging apps, and online gaming platforms to reach young people. The motion urges the union’s leadership to evaluate the risks posed by these movements and to collaborate with the government in helping teachers challenge extremist narratives targeting students.
Many teachers who participated in the NASUWT poll specifically mentioned the harmful impact that Andrew Tate’s content has had on male pupils. One teacher reported that ten-year-old boys in their class refused to speak to her, choosing instead to interact only with a male teaching assistant, because they idolised Tate and believed in his views about how women should be treated. Another teacher from an all-boys school in a low-income area noted that Tate’s influence drastically affected how students interacted with both females and peers they didn't consider "masculine."
Other teachers described incidents where boys used offensive language towards female staff, barked at them, and deliberately blocked doorways to assert dominance — all behaviours they linked directly to Andrew Tate’s videos. In one secondary school English class, a group of boys insisted on writing essays praising Tate as the “GOAT” (Greatest of All Time), including arguments supporting his belief that women are a man’s property. The school contacted the parents of those students, who were reportedly shocked and concerned.
Another teacher said students now frequently echo the views of Tate and former U.S. President Donald Trump, expressing racist, sexist, homophobic, and transphobic comments with little regard for consequences.
Patrick Roach, general secretary of NASUWT, referenced the violent events of the previous summer, including the murder of three girls in Southport, as evidence of the dangers posed by social media extremists. He warned that without immediate intervention, such incidents would not be isolated. A motion passed at the conference emphasized that the aftereffects of last summer’s violence are still being felt in school communities, posing ongoing threats to student and staff safety.
The broader cultural conversation about online radicalization has also been sparked by the recent television drama Adolescence, which explores incel (involuntary celibate) culture. The show prompted Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to host its creators at Downing Street last month, where he acknowledged that there is no easy solution to preventing boys from being pulled into a “whirlpool” of misogynistic beliefs.
Roach stressed that while public attention on misogyny and hate speech has increased recently, these harmful attitudes are not new. He called for a coordinated effort involving schools, colleges, and other agencies to protect children from far-right and populist ideologies, and to ensure that educational environments remain safe for everyone. He also emphasized the need to teach students critical thinking and media literacy skills to help them navigate and reject disinformation online.
“We are urging the Government to lead a national effort to tackle the root causes of poverty and deprivation and keep children safe online,” Roach stated. “Teachers cannot be left alone to deal with these problems.”
A spokesperson for the Department for Education (DfE) echoed these concerns, stating that the government recognises the harmful influence of online personalities and is actively supporting educators in building resilience among students. The DfE noted that the curriculum is being reviewed to better equip children for today’s fast-evolving digital world and highlighted the upcoming implementation of the Online Safety Act, which aims to ensure safer online experiences for young people.
Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats described the findings as “shocking but unsurprising” and blamed addictive algorithms for leading children into toxic online spaces. Munira Wilson, the party’s spokesperson for education, children, and families, called for a “safer screens” task force and proposed reinvesting fines from breaches of the Online Safety Act into educational programs that promote digital safety in schools.
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