The following will not include the identity of specific schools, and all the names of respondents, locally and nationally, have been changed.
How Toxic Masculinities Are Devastating Some Dorset… Schools
Toxic masculinity is having a damaging impact on some Dorset… schools, creating a hostile environment that affects both students and staff. This concept refers to harmful behaviours and attitudes associated with traditional male stereotypes, such as aggression, emotional suppression, and dominance. Here’s how it manifests and its consequences:
- Bullying and Violence: Toxic masculinity often promotes aggression as a way to assert dominance. In schools, this can lead to increased bullying, fights, and intimidation. Boys who feel pressured to conform to these norms may resort to physical or verbal abuse to prove their “masculinity,” creating an unsafe environment for others.
- Mental Health Struggles: The expectation to suppress emotions and appear “tough” can take a toll on boys’ mental health. Many feel unable to seek help or express vulnerability, leading to issues like anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts. This emotional repression can also manifest in anger or disruptive behaviour in the classroom.
- Impact on Academic Performance: The pressure to conform to masculine stereotypes can discourage boys from engaging in subjects or activities perceived as “feminine,” such as arts or languages. This limits their educational opportunities and reinforces gender divides. Additionally, disruptive behaviour linked to toxic masculinity can hinder learning for both the individual and their peers.
- Sexism and Harassment: Toxic masculinity often perpetuates disrespectful attitudes towards women and girls. In schools, this can result in sexist remarks, sexual harassment, and a culture of misogyny. Female students and staff may feel marginalised or unsafe, while boys who reject these attitudes may face ridicule.
- Normalisation of Harmful Behaviours: When toxic masculinity goes unchallenged, it can become ingrained in school culture. This normalises harmful behaviours, making it harder for students to recognise and reject them. It also perpetuates cycles of aggression and emotional suppression, affecting future relationships and workplaces.
- Stifling Individuality: Boys who don’t fit traditional masculine stereotypes—such as those who are sensitive, artistic, or academically inclined—may face exclusion or bullying. This stifles their individuality and self-esteem, preventing them from thriving.
Addressing the Issue:
To combat toxic masculinity, schools need to promote healthy, inclusive attitudes about gender. This includes:
- Encouraging open discussions about emotions and mental health.
- Challenging stereotypes through education and role models.
- Implementing anti-bullying and anti-harassment policies.
- Providing support for students struggling with these pressures.
By tackling toxic masculinity, schools can create a safer, more supportive environment for all students to learn and grow.
The Online Dangers Facing Dorset… Teenagers: A Growing Concern
The digital age has revolutionised the way young people interact with the world. However, a recent survey conducted in schools has raised serious concerns about the dangers teenagers face online. The study, which surveyed over 1,000 young people aged 14 to 17, highlights the disturbing reality of what teenagers encounter on social media and gaming platforms. From exposure to inappropriate violent or sexual content to being contacted by strangers, the findings suggest that the current safeguards in place may be inadequate in protecting children.
Excessive Time Spent Online
One of the most alarming findings was the amount of time teenagers spend on their devices. 40% of those surveyed reported spending at least six hours a day online—the equivalent of a full school day. Even more concerning, one in five admitted to spending more than eight hours daily on their phones. This level of digital engagement can have serious repercussions on mental health, sleep patterns, and academic performance.
Unwanted Exposure to Harmful Content
The survey revealed that 55% of Year 10 students (aged 14 to 15) had encountered sexually explicit or violent content inappropriate for their age. What is particularly concerning is that half of them reported that this content appeared unprompted, often on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. This suggests that algorithms are actively promoting distressing material, exposing young users to disturbing imagery without their consent.
Teenagers in a focus group described their encounters with graphic and unsettling content. Jacob Lea, 15, recounted seeing “gore, animal abuse, car crashes, everything related to death, torture”—all without actively seeking such content. Another teenager, Matthew Adams, spoke about being exposed to sexually explicit and violent material across various platforms.
The phenomenon of “doomscrolling,” in which users spend excessive time consuming negative or distressing content, was also noted in the survey. The compulsive nature of this behaviour can contribute to anxiety, depression, and a skewed perception of reality.
The Threat of Online Predators
A particularly shocking statistic from the survey found that 75% of under-16s had been contacted by strangers through social media and online gaming. Many of these interactions occur on platforms where age verification processes are weak or easily bypassed.
Teenagers described instances of being added to group chats by unknown individuals, often containing disturbing or explicit content. Olivia Bedford, 15, recounted being placed in chats featuring violent images and struggling to remove herself as she kept being re-added. Summer Batley, 14, described the ease with which strangers can contact young users on Snapchat and TikTok, raising significant safety concerns.
Calls for Stronger Regulations
The overwhelming sentiment among teenagers in the focus group was that social media companies are not doing enough to protect them. While they did not support an outright ban on smartphones or social media, many expressed a desire for stricter content moderation.
When asked whether they supported greater efforts from social media companies to shield under-16s from harmful content, 50% were in favour, compared to just 14% against. Many also pointed to the ineffectiveness of reporting mechanisms, with unwanted content continuing to appear despite repeated complaints.
Labour MP Lola McEvoy, whose office conducted the research, described the findings as “shocking” and emphasised that “the safety of our children online is one of the defining issues of our time.” She stressed the need for enforceable age verification, improved content moderation, and more effective safety features to protect young users.
Legislative Responses and Industry Inaction
The UK government has introduced the Online Safety Act, which aims to hold platforms accountable for failing to protect children from harmful content. With tough fines set to be implemented this year, there is hope that tech companies will be forced to take stronger action. However, there remains scepticism over how effectively these measures will be enforced.
A proposed bill to raise the “age of consent” for giving personal data to social media companies from 13 to 16 was recently watered down after government opposition, highlighting the ongoing debate about how best to regulate online safety.
Despite repeated requests, major social media companies such as Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok declined to provide on-the-record comments regarding the teenagers’ concerns. While these platforms claim to prioritise safety—Instagram, for example, is rolling out “Teen Accounts” to limit who can contact under-16s—the experiences of young people suggest that much more needs to be done.
The Role of Parents, Schools, and Society
The survey underscores the reality that parents and teachers alone cannot tackle this crisis. While families can set restrictions and monitor their children’s usage, the responsibility also lies with tech companies and policymakers to ensure the digital world is a safe space for young users.
With increasing evidence of the mental health impact of social media, there is an urgent need for a multi-faceted approach. Stricter regulations, improved content moderation, and better education on digital safety are essential steps toward ensuring that teenagers can navigate the internet without fear of harm.
As the debate over online safety continues, one thing is clear: teenagers themselves want to be part of the conversation. Their voices must be heard if meaningful change is to be achieved.
