Government should investigate students’ access to ‘dangerous’ online content

The leader of Britain’s largest education union has said the government should launch an inquiry into “dangerous” content young people can access on their smartphones.

Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), has warned that there are “real problems” of sexism and misogyny in schools, exacerbated by the exposure of harmful content online.

Mr Kebede called on the government to “tackle” big tech companies as he said the problem was “too widespread” to be left to schools and parents.

He added that students were easily exposed to social media influencers like Andrew Tate, as well as “offensive hardcore pornography” that affected young boys’ views on women and relationships.

His comments came ahead of a debate on online misogyny and sexism at the NEU’s annual conference in Bournemouth.

A motion due to be debated on Friday said sexism and misogyny online “continues to rise” through social media and online influencers, posing a “real challenge” to those promoting gender equality.

It suggested that union resources promoting anti-sexism were “not as widely used as they should be” in schools and colleges.

Speaking to the media ahead of the debate, Kebede said he had worked with young girls who were victims of “grossly misogynistic behaviour” and had experienced abuse, violence and sexual assault.

He said: “This is fueled by a culture of misogyny and sexism, which is in turn fueled by the content that young boys and young men have access to on their smartphones. It’s really widespread.”

The launch of the Everyone Is Invited campaign in 2021 – a campaign to target sexual harassment and abuse – has seen some students accuse schools of failing to tackle “rape culture”.

Asked whether the problem had become worse since the election, Mr Kebede said: “I don’t think anyone at the moment is able to look at what’s going on in society and think about the issues of sexism and misogyny and what young people can do through it. What content is accessible on mobile. Particularly improving. Not yet.”

He added: “It’s fair to say there are real issues with sexism and misogyny in schools. There’s a real issue with what young people can easily access via their smartphones.

“I think the government is completely uninvolved in this issue. There’s no real regulation and it’s causing a huge problem in our schools.”

Asked what the government should do, the NEU chief said: “If we’re honest, they need to really deal with big tech.

“Big tech companies have to take some responsibility and be regulated and policed ​​to make sure young people don’t have access to really invasive, dangerous stuff on their phones.

“It’s not enough for schools or parents to police it. It’s too common.

“I think the government needs to do a real inquiry into this and make some recommendations on some significant reforms.”

In February this year, schools in England received non-statutory government guidance aimed at banning the use of mobile phones during school hours.

Last month, schools minister Damian Hinds told the education select committee that having a mobile phone between primary and secondary school had become a “rite of passage” for almost all children.

Esther Ghey, the mother of murdered teenager Brianna Ghey, is campaigning for smartphone age limits and tighter controls on access to social media apps.

Asked whether parents could do more to limit what their children are exposed to online, Mr Kebede said: “Children and young people are very good at looking at technology and how to use it and how to get around any filters and restrictions that have been Get in position.

“We can’t individualize problems and attribute them to parenting issues, parenting failures. It’s very difficult to be a rejecting parent when every other kid has access to a smartphone.

“The government has to regulate this, and the government supports families in making these decisions.”

A government spokesman said: “All children deserve to grow up in a safe environment and we want schools to take immediate action to combat sexual misconduct or harassment.

“Through our world-leading Online Safety Bill, social media companies will be required to protect children from harmful material online, and the Education Secretary recently took strong action to ban mobile phones in schools.

“We are also reviewing statutory guidance on relationships, sexuality and health education and as part of this we are considering how to strengthen guidance and support for schools on this issue.”