The impact of online misogyny on children and young people's attitudes and behaviours
The Barnardo’s Online Misogyny Report (the Bernado’s Report) addresses the impact of online misogyny on children and young people’s attitudes and behaviours. It highlights that misogynistic content is increasingly normalised in children’s online lives, with algorithms, influencers and new technologies amplifying degrading messages about women and girls and harmful myths about masculinity. For youth justice practitioners, the findings are relevant to the identification of hate-related harm, the experiences of girls in the youth justice system, and the design of rehabilitative work that challenges misogynistic attitudes and supports safer relationships.
Details
Key findings from the Barnardo’s Report
1. Online misogyny is becoming normalised in children’s digital lives
Barnardo’s emphasises that for children and young people, online and offline life are closely connected. Misogynistic content is described as a constant stream of extreme and degrading messages about women and girls, alongside damaging myths about masculinity. Around two thirds of young people surveyed reported witnessing or coming across harmful gender expectations online, indicating that misogyny is not an isolated issue but part of the everyday environment in which many children form attitudes about gender, power and relationships.
2. Girls experience harassment, sexualised abuse and victim-blaming narratives
The Barnardo’s Report notes that girls are disproportionately exposed to harassment, sexualised abuse and victim-blaming narratives online. One in four girls reported being called degrading names online, nearly one in five reported receiving repeated unwanted messages after asking the sender to stop or ignoring them, and one in eight reported being threatened with the sharing of nude images.
3. Harmful masculinity and peer pressure affect boys’ attitudes and responses
The Barnardo’s Report identifies significant pressure on boys to conform to narrow and stereotypical models of masculinity. Barnardo’s polling found that 59% of boys believe they are expected to act tough and suppress emotion. The Barnardo’s Report states that this culture discourages empathy, emotional expression and bystander intervention, which is particularly important for rehabilitative work with boys who may minimise, excuse or participate in misogynistic behaviour.
4. Platform design and weak moderation amplify misogynistic harm
The Barnardo’s Report concludes that misogyny is a daily reality for children and young people, and that young people want technology companies to act proactively to prevent harm rather than addressing the harm after it has been caused. Additionally, it states that the normalisation of misogyny is amplified by platform design, algorithms and weak moderation, meaning harmful content is not only widespread but often actively promoted. Hence, the Bernardo’s Report calls for Ofcom’s Violence Against Women and Girls guidance to be strengthened into a mandatory Code of Practice, alongside education, prevention and work with young people to challenge harmful attitudes.
Commentary
The Barnardo’s Report reinforces a clear message for youth justice practitioners, namely that online misogyny should be understood as a safeguarding, behavioural and rehabilitative issue, not simply as background online content. The findings show that girls are exposed to degrading, sexualised and credibility-undermining harm, while boys can face peer pressure that discourages empathy, emotional expression and challenge to sexist behaviour. Effective practice should therefore combine careful assessment and recording of gendered harm, trauma-informed and gender-responsive work with girls, direct rehabilitative work with boys and peer groups, and coordinated online safety planning with partner agencies.