Cyber Safety

Taking power back from Tate

Here’s the antidote to Tate’s toxic influence. He has been called the ‘most hated man on the Internet’, yet his vile video rants have billions of views. 

If you have teens on the internet, they’ve likely heard the name, Andrew Tate. Tate’s videos have recently gone viral on popular platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, with content containing abhorrent rants on pro-violence towards women, the illegitimacy of depression, and a slew of other insensitive, uneducated opinions.

For context, on TikTok alone, #adrewtate has over 12.4 billion views. But what is especially concerning to the global community is the fanbase that Tate has amassed, with other popular hashtags also receiving a staggering viewership: #andrewtateinspiration currently sits at 71.5 million views and #andrewtatemotivation at an eye-watering 144.1 million.

For context, on TikTok alone, #andrewtate has over 12.4 billion views. But what is especially concerning to the global community is the fanbase that Tate has amassed, with other popular hashtags also receiving a staggering viewership: #andrewtateinspiration currently sits at 71.5 million views and #andrewtatemotivation at an eye-watering 144.1 million.

In contrast, hundreds of articles are being posted online, with media outlets denouncing the ‘King of Toxic Masculinity’ and calling for all content by and about him to be banned.

Tate himself is clearly a cause for concern, but he is not the first, nor will he be the last person to hold toxic views (and rant about them publicly). The problem that is understandably alarming for parents is Tate’s influence on their children. Parents are worried that his horrific attitude will corrupt their teenage sons, and adolescent girls are becoming scared of their male counterparts. 

As a Clinical Psychologist and Online Safety Expert, I’m certainly not immune to the immediate anger that occurs after watching a Tate-rant, and given the amount of academically incorrect commentary he provides, I would further argue that he needs a misinformation warning linked to his posts, (but that’s another point entirely). What Tate is really seeking with his online tirades is the power that comes from eliciting this reaction. Therefore, he makes content not for the people who agree, but for those who don’t, and this is the key concept parents should remember when managing this type of situation.

Tate is nothing but an online troll with an unfortunately large platform, and remembering that the objective of an online troll is to share inflammatory posts or content with the intention of provoking viewers and thus evoking a strong negative response, their behaviour will intensify as their audience’s outrage increases. With that in mind, here are my suggestions to parents regarding the best way to approach this situation with their teens:

Stay calm and take power away from trolls

If our goal is to take power away from online trolls, then taming our own emotional response is paramount in achieving this. Remember that people like Tate are controversial for the sole purpose of eliciting anger or fear, but both you and your children can take power back by quelling this reaction.

It's important to remember that trolls often come with a fanbase of people who do not typically embody the same attitudes as the troll, but seek to jump on the rollercoaster of hype, therefore sharing the same agenda as the troll themselves. My advice for parents to share with their teens is simple: Don’t read the comments.

Enter into a non-judgemental conversation

Speak with your child about whether they’ve seen or heard any of Tate’s content and, if so, how it made them feel. In an open, non-judgmental way, genuinely explore their thoughts and perspectives. Your fears will likely subside when you learn that your child blatantly disagrees or has calmly disregarded Tate’s diatribe. Discuss the concept of trolls and how they try to use sensationalism to elicit responses.

Broaden the perspective

What worries many parents is the fear that the societal status quo has been disrupted and that, as a result, Tate’s horrific attitudes may corrupt their young and impressionable teens. However, when we take a closer look at the online articles on Tate, it becomes apparent that millions of people (teens included) who categorically reject Tate's warped perspective are not represented in the numbers. Parents can help shift the perspective of their fearful teens away from the scary hype by enabling them to realise how few people actually share the same sentiment.

Influence the algorithm

Because millions of people are viewing Tate’s content, social media algorithms are presenting more and more Tate-based subject matter. This also means that the content is likely being shown to children who aren’t actually interested in it, further increasing its reach. For parents, this can provide an excellent opportunity to empower their children by showing them how to shape their own social media algorithm to display content that supports their wellbeing. Teach them to swipe past Tate content, report it, and social platforms will learn that your child doesn’t want to see that type of content again. 

Teach children to be helpful bystanders

On the back of social media hype such as this, we tend to see children going to school and playfully replicating the behaviours or attitudes of the trend in question. Bystanders play a critical role in decreasing this behaviour or ‘joke’ by creating a space where it is not accepted. Help your children practice respectfully calling out friends who pretend to share Tate’s views or, better yet, ignoring them and decreasing interest in their behaviour. 

One final thought

My final point for parents to remember is that our children are shaped by our values and modelling as parents, by the teachers who support them every day, and by the society and culture of the communities in which they operate. Have faith in the important values you and your community have worked to instil in your children. Andrew Tate and his negative legacy will die out soon, but until then, your children’s positive values and healthy relationships will help weather the storm. 

Reference: https://www.ysafe.com.au/andrew-tate.html

Cyber Safety Hub

We are delighted to introduce you to a new resource made available to you through our partnership with Family Zone - our new school Cyber Safety Hub. 

As you may already be aware, our partnership provides your family with access to the Family Zone tools to use at home with your children if you wish. The purpose of the Cyber Safety Hub is to complement those tools with practical guidance and information to further support you in engaging with your children in their digital development. These tools and resources also allow the school and parent body to work together on creating a holistic approach to guiding each student's online journey. 

About the Parent Cyber Safety Hub 

The Cyber Safety Hub includes resources to help your family better understand the different Family Zone tools available to you and how to use them, plus access to regular cyber safety events to help you stay informed about the latest digital trends. 

Also, the Cyber Safety Hub provides expert advice from leading cyber experts, ySafe, on the most pertinent issues and frequently asked questions around platforms like TikTok, Fortnite, Instagram, and more. There are app reviews with age and safety recommendations, along with a range of guides to help ensure healthy boundaries around screen-time & gaming, plus step-by-step instructions for using parental controls and filtering out inappropriate content. 

We are very excited to be able to offer you this level of expertise and support. We look forward to working closely with you as we develop the cyber safety conversation within our school community.