Is it too late to save our boys FROM HATE?

After the alarming rise in boys watching misogynistic influencers online, we ask…

- 

It's no lie that teenagers are often buried in their phones, lost in a world of apps and social media. For many of us, the content our children and grandchildren are accessing has long been a cause for concern. And recently teachers have reported an alarming rise in the number of boys watching hate-filled misogynistic influencers online.

One notorious woman-hater, Andrew Tate, is facing trial in Romania on human trafficking and rape charges but has flown by private jet to Florida, telling reporters he is 'misunderstood'. Most of Tate's followers are young men and teens, and according to a survey, those aged 18 to 29 were the most likely to have a positive opinion of him.

Seemingly, one of his fans was Kyle Clifford, 26, who was recently convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend and her sister with a crossbow, and stabbing her mum to death at their home in Hertfordshire. It was revealed he'd viewed up to 10 of Tate's videos the day before the murders (although Clifford's defence argued the Tate material he accessed was too vague a link to his actions).

It's unsurprising that many parents are worried about the impact 'influencers' like Tate are having on their teens. We speak to one mum who watched her sweet, kind boy get sucked into the toxic 'manosphere'.

'I FELT LIKE I'D LOST MY SON'

Alexandra Smith reveals the impact Tate had on her son.

I'll never forget the moment my sweet 12-year-old son called his younger sister Matilda 'a little b***h'. I was absolutely stunned, disgusted and heartbroken. Sam had always been a caring, kind boy. He loved hanging out with his sister, adored her, and was an affectionate big brother from the day she arrived when he was three.

I am a feminist, and have always taught them women are equal to men. This was ingrained in Sam - or so I thought.