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submitted 7 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/world@lemmy.world

Summary

Social media influencers are fuelling a rise in misogyny and sexism in the UK's classrooms, according to teachers.

More than 5,800 teachers were polled... and nearly three in five (59%) said they believe social media use has contributed to a deterioration in pupils' behaviour.

One teacher said she'd had 10-year-old boys "refuse to speak to [her]...because [she is] a woman". Another said "the Andrew Tate phenomena had a huge impact on how [pupils] interacted with females and males they did not see as 'masculine'".

"There is an urgent need for concerted action... to safeguard all children and young people from the dangerous influence of far-right populists and extremists."

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[-] ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net 144 points 7 months ago

In my opinion the huge difference between this generation and all previous ones is that content is no longer vetted by anyone. It used to be that to put something in front of kids it had to approved by some sane adult. If a TV station marketed to children something that most parents would not approve they would face protests or maybe even legal action. On social media any asshole can post literally anything and millions of kids will consume it without any supervision.

[-] Baggie@lemmy.zip 25 points 7 months ago

You know you're actually right on the money, and it's a little startling that it never occurred to me before. Shit.

[-] merc@sh.itjust.works 7 points 7 months ago

And, part of the reason for that is section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996.

No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.

If a TV station or radio station has a call-in show and the caller swears, it's the station that gets fined. If the station runs a late night informercial where someone is defamed, the station is liable. But, do it online and you're fine. The YouTube algorithm can pick out the juiciest, most controversial, most slanderous content and shove it into everyone's recommendations and only the person who posted that content is responsible.

Section 230 makes sense in some situations. If you're running a bulletin board without any kind of algorithm promoting posts, then it makes sense that you shouldn't be held accountable for what someone says in that bulletin board. But, YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. have all taken it too far. They don't personally create the content, but they have algorithms that analyze the content and decide who to show it to. They get the protections of a bulletin board, while curating the content to make it even more engaging than a segment on Newsmax or MSNBC.

[-] supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz 4 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

It used to be that to put something in front of kids it had to approved by some sane adult.

I love how you got a ton of upvotes by vaguely gesturing at the past.

When was this time you speak of?

What has changed is the social fabric of society has been ripped up.

[-] lolcatnip@reddthat.com 14 points 7 months ago

Back when media for kids consisted mainly of broadcast TV shows and books. It's not some mythical past; it's my childhood.

[-] supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz 5 points 7 months ago

..and that centralized system of culture disemination played a major hand in creating the crisises we are in now.

[-] lolcatnip@reddthat.com 4 points 7 months ago

Ah yes, the Sesame Street to MAGA pipeline.

[-] supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz 2 points 7 months ago

Don't condescend me, I am talking about TV and US media in general.

[-] dontbelasagne@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

Oscar the grouch would be a anti vaxer and complain about immigrants taking their bins.

this post was submitted on 20 Apr 2025
1211 points (100.0% liked)

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