Chloe Combi

Nearly one million UK people aged 16–24 are not in education, employment or training, with young men particularly affected. Andy Burnham’s proposal to place technical education at the center of the curriculum, expand work experience and connect schools with local employers is presented as a promising response, alongside Labour plans for youth guarantees and employment support. The deeper causes identified include the disappearance of teenage part-time jobs, restrictions and bureaucracy affecting under-18 employment, parental anxiety, school budget cuts, weak careers guidance, poor mental health and the appeal of online entrepreneurial fame. The crisis will require both structural reforms and a cultural shift that gives teenagers earlier opportunities to develop independence, practical skills and realistic routes into work.

The rising popularity of teenage “link-ups” across Britain is attributed to unaffordable holidays and entertainment, youth unemployment, limited access to clubs and sports, social-media restrictions and a growing sense of alienation. Young people describe the gatherings as opportunities to party and meet others, but some events have involved vandalism, theft, harassment and violence, including a Clapham gathering that led to six arrests. Police warn that participants risk arrest and criminal records, while the article argues that suppressing the events without addressing the lack of safe, affordable activities could produce wider unrest beyond the summer.

Political instability, economic hardship and institutional failure have left many British young people feeling that government is irrelevant and that no leader can offer meaningful change. Interviews with teenagers from different social backgrounds reveal concerns about poverty, crime, political extremism, Brexit-related division and the erosion of trust in public institutions. The piece argues that online platforms such as TikTok have provided young people with an alternative economic and cultural system, but that policy changes may remove important income opportunities. Any incoming prime minister, including the prospectively hopeful Andy Burnham, is urged to prioritize youth safety, housing, education, employment and a renewed sense of belonging.

The article argues that a renewed Everyone’s Invited movement may be needed because violence against women, distrust in police and justice systems, and online misogyny have worsened since 2020. It contends that clumsy messaging alienated some boys and helped manosphere influencers such as Andrew Tate gain influence, deepening the divide between young men and women. The proposed alternative is healing rather than further polarization, with men becoming more vocal allies and role models through schools, families, sports, youth clubs and online spaces. Rebuilding safe social environments and encouraging men to actively support gender equality are presented as essential to countering toxic messaging and preventing further deterioration in gender relations.

Teenagers’ views on the proposed UK ban on social media for under-16s are more complex than the usual old-versus-young narrative. Many young people privately support restrictions because they associate social media with addiction, social conflict, influencer culture, unhealthy comparison and algorithmic manipulation, even while relying on platforms such as Snapchat and YouTube for communication, learning and entertainment. Support is particularly strong among teenagers with access to alternative hobbies, resources and support networks. The central concern is that disadvantaged children may lose important sources of friendship, education and comfort, so the ban will only be a genuine success if policymakers provide meaningful alternatives and ensure its effects do not deepen existing inequalities.

Students at an elite UK school claim to have trained an AI model on two decades of GCSE and A-level papers, course content and exam trends, achieving predictions they say were more than 90 per cent accurate. They argue that using AI to focus revision is an advanced form of exam preparation rather than cheating, while educators warn it undermines learning, resilience and the fairness of assessment. The practice is part of a wider rise in AI-enabled academic misconduct, including the use of smart glasses and earpieces, prompting calls for a major overhaul of examination systems.

Bonnie Blue’s announcement of a pregnancy and plans for a provocative “golden baby shower” generated outrage among adults, but the article argues that younger audiences are responding with indifference, ridicule and pity rather than shock. It presents this reaction as evidence that Gen Alpha and younger audiences are becoming disillusioned with attention-seeking content creators, increasingly aware of monetization and algorithms, and more attracted to offline life and authentic public figures. The shift could undermine creators who depend on controversy and outrage for clicks and income.

Online gambling has become far more accessible to teenagers through smartphones, social media, gaming platforms, influencers and unregulated services. Young people describe bypassing age checks, developing compulsive betting habits, accumulating serious debts and chasing losses, with gambling-related distress sometimes contributing to isolation and suicide. Gambling Commission figures indicate rising participation among 11- to 17-year-olds, while young adults show significant rates of problem gambling. Matt Zarb-Cousin of Gamban argues that the industry exploits generational despondency and presents gambling as a route to financial security. The Advertising Standards Authority has announced monitoring of app stores, influencer marketing and the use of under-25s in gambling advertising, but critics regard existing protections as inadequate. The article links the problem partly to the liberalisation of gambling law under Tony Blair's government and calls for stronger regulation and a wider public debate about gambling's place in the social-media environment.

A young UK graduate describes repeated unsuccessful applications, opaque automated recruitment processes, unpaid trial work and the humiliation of being unable to secure stable employment. Living with supportive parents and working intermittently in a pub, the narrator says even entry-level and graduate programmes are fiercely competitive, while rent—especially in London—remains unaffordable. The account argues that youth unemployment, anxiety and dependence on family support are structural problems rather than evidence of personal failure.

Young people face a severe UK employment crisis, with unemployment among 16- to 24-year-olds far above the overall rate and applications for entry-level jobs rising sharply. Interviews with employers identify resilience, retention, practical experience, useful specialist skills, thoughtful CVs, professional social-media activity, networking, persistence, broad industry searches and genuine interests as qualities that help candidates stand out. The article also argues that employers must improve recruitment by reducing reliance on AI screening and privileged credentials, advertising salaries, recognizing transferable experience and offering realistic pay and degree requirements.

Young people in the UK are being failed by worsening unemployment, unaffordable housing, disrupted education, weak career pathways and the loss of entry-level work to AI. Citing Alan Milburn’s warning that the number of young people not in education, employment or training could reach 1.25 million by 2031, the piece argues that mental-health problems and social isolation are symptoms of a deeper economic and institutional failure. It calls for employers to fund training and housing support, clearer degree and hiring information, stronger bridges between education and industry, and affordable opportunities for socializing and community-building. Without urgent action from government, businesses and older generations, the country risks creating a poorer, more isolated and politically volatile generation.

Teacher strikes, prolonged teacher shortages, emotionally based school avoidance and rising absenteeism are leaving thousands of UK pupils unprepared for or absent from GCSE examinations. The article links the post-pandemic deterioration in attendance—particularly among girls and disadvantaged pupils—to worsening mental health, caring responsibilities and deep inequalities between schools. Social-media communities increasingly reject GCSEs and formal education as unfair, with some students planning exam walkouts after receiving inadequate teaching. Government warnings about reduced future earnings have done little to address parents’ and pupils’ belief that the education system systematically favors wealthier students.

Young voters are increasingly rejecting Labour and the Conservatives because of worsening economic prospects, high housing costs, limited jobs and a sense that mainstream politics has failed them. While the Green Party attracts many as an alternative, Reform UK and Nigel Farage are also gaining support: some young people agree with Reform's positions on immigration, crime and law and order, while others see it simply as a vehicle for disruptive change. The article argues that political disillusionment and anger could fuel further fragmentation and support for outsider parties unless mainstream leaders deliver tangible improvements, beginning with simple measures such as effective apprenticeships, affordable transport and relief from tuition costs.

Extreme online beauty culture is increasingly shaping how teenage boys view status, masculinity and self-worth. The article examines “looksmaxxing” and “mogging,” including dangerous procedures such as bone-lengthening and self-harm, and focuses on influencer Braden Peters, known as Clavicular, whose appearance-based worldview has attracted a large Gen A following. Interviews and research are used to connect these trends with rising male body-image anxiety, eating disorders and mental-health problems. The broader concern is that social media and AI-generated beauty ideals are redefining success around attractiveness, wealth and influence while displacing values such as intelligence, kindness and meaningful work.

Celebrity nepotism, influencer culture and exaggerated stories of overnight entrepreneurial success are leaving young people with “success anxiety” and the false impression that wealth and fame are attainable through effort alone. Harper Beckham’s proposed skincare business is presented as an example: although marketed as her own idea, it benefits from the Beckham family’s wealth, fame, connections and established promotional infrastructure. Interviews with teenagers and young adults show that such stories intensify feelings of unfairness and make competitive careers seem even less accessible. The piece argues for greater honesty about privilege and for valuing durable professions, hard work and resilience over fleeting content-creator fame.

The writer watches Louis Theroux’s documentary Inside the Manosphere with teenagers and their parents, finding its exposure of misogynistic influencers troubling but belated and insufficiently probing. The teenagers describe the appeal of figures such as Andrew Tate, Sneako and HStikkytokky to boys seeking belonging, particularly those without strong paternal support, but say the content loses credibility because of its bullying, misogyny and dubious promises of wealth. A technology worker compares the movement’s appeal to a cult for vulnerable young men, while masculinity expert Lewis Wedlock criticizes the documentary for omitting women’s perspectives and failing to confront the harms of normalized sexism and violence. The overall conclusion is that the influencers appear less like successful role models than sad, exploitative and increasingly discredited figures.

The manosphere’s misogynistic, hyper-masculine influence on boys remains troubling, but evidence from research and popular culture suggests that many Gen Z and Generation Alpha males are tiring of its stereotypes. Young audiences are responding instead to stories and role models that emphasise vulnerability, kindness, complexity, female equality and emotionally connected friendships. Examples including modern versions of Lord of the Flies, The Pitt, Stranger Things, Jeff Buckley and Louis Theroux’s documentary indicate that positive masculinity may be gaining cultural ground, while ridicule and critical engagement may be more effective than simply banning manosphere influencers.

Growing concern about the effects of smartphones and social media on children has divided parents into opposing camps. Some support blanket smartphone bans in schools and restrictions on social media for under-16s, while youth-led groups and other experts favor education, self-regulation and enforcement of existing laws. Personal accounts show that the debate has become hostile and socially punitive, with parents and children pressured to choose sides. The case of Molly Russell and the film Molly vs the Machines are used to highlight algorithmic harms and Big Tech’s lack of accountability. The central argument is that parents should direct their anger toward platforms and demand transparency and publisher-level responsibility rather than attacking one another.

Prince William’s BBC Radio 1 discussion of men’s mental health is portrayed as a failed attempt to connect with Gen Z and Gen Alpha amid renewed scrutiny of Jeffrey Epstein, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and the royal family’s perceived silence. Young people interviewed express anger at taxpayer-funded privilege, inequality and what they see as different standards of accountability for the powerful. Links between Epstein and Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, whose company helped fund the Earthshot Prize, are presented as further fuel for mistrust, although there is no evidence William knew of the connection. With police reviewing Epstein-related material and victims calling for testimony, the piece argues that a modern monarchy will need to demonstrate meaningful accountability rather than rely on personal vulnerability or public-relations messaging.

The article argues that a blanket UK ban on social media for under-16s could disproportionately harm disadvantaged, isolated and LGBTQ+ young people who rely on online communities for friendship, identity, education and opportunity. While acknowledging serious problems involving bullying, harmful content and weak platform regulation, it says governments should first assess evidence from Australia and consult young people. Any restrictions, it argues, must be accompanied by investment in safe third spaces, affordable activities, youth clubs and other offline resources so that children without wealthy families or supportive communities are not left more isolated.

Racist incidents and language are reportedly increasing in British schools, with Department for Education data showing a 220 per cent rise in primary-school suspensions for racist abuse. Students and teachers link the deterioration to migrant-hotel protests, social media, extremist online personalities and the increasingly normalized rhetoric of politicians and public figures including Nigel Farage, Donald Trump and Jim Ratcliffe. Younger voters are also showing growing support for Reform UK and other strongly ideological movements, reflecting frustration with the political status quo. Anti-racism organizations are calling for racism to be treated as a safeguarding issue, while growing polarization is making constructive discussion of immigration and integration more difficult.

Brooklyn Beckham’s public estrangement from his family is used to examine the broader backlash against “toxic boy mums” and mother-focused parenting criticism online. The article argues that sharenting—parents turning children’s lives into social-media content without consent—has left many Gen Z and Gen Alpha adults feeling exploited and traumatised, particularly when family content was monetised. Although both parents may be responsible, mothers attract disproportionate scrutiny because of entrenched assumptions about mother-child relationships and suspicion of ambitious women. Brooklyn’s privacy concerns are considered legitimate, but the fairness of singling out Victoria Beckham remains unresolved; the wider lesson is that parents should weigh online engagement against their children’s future wellbeing and relationships.

AI-generated sexual deepfakes are being used to target British teachers and pupils, causing severe humiliation, trauma, school absence and some victims to consider leaving education. Reported cases include fabricated pornography involving teachers and children, while perpetrators have sometimes received only short suspensions. Data from the Internet Watch Foundation showed reports of AI-generated child sexual abuse material more than doubling from 199 in 2024 to 426 in 2025. Although UK law criminalizes child sexual abuse material and has introduced an offence for sexually explicit deepfakes, campaigners argue that loopholes around perpetrator intent leave victims inadequately protected. The article calls for stronger legal safeguards and criticizes technology companies for failing to prevent abuse.

The piece argues that Timothée Chalamet and Marty Supreme offer a playful alternative to the toxic masculinity and online misogyny associated with the manosphere. Chalamet’s portrayal of a 1950s Jewish table-tennis player has helped drive a youth culture phenomenon around the film, encouraging real-world friendships, humor and communal activity. Drawing on Scott Galloway’s arguments about boys’ isolation and on initiatives such as the Lost Boys campaign, the article calls for positive male role models, participation in sport and greater distance from divisive online spaces. It concludes that digital minimalism, social connection and healthier relationships could make 2026 more hopeful.

Smartphones and social-media platforms have enabled a damaging form of bullying involving pornography, violent material, misogyny and public humiliation, with boys and young men particularly exposed to manosphere content, gambling and radicalisation. Testimonies from young people describe lasting trauma, social isolation and, in one case, a death linked to debt and withdrawal. The article argues that parental and school controls are inadequate, criticises the Department for Education and successive governments for failing to act, and supports stronger measures including Australia’s under-16 social-media restrictions and a ban on smartphones in schools.

Young British travellers and other Gen Z social-media users are being approached by drug gangs through TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and messaging services with offers of cash, luxury holidays and expensive gifts. The article describes how posts showing partying, wealth or drug use can help criminals identify vulnerable targets for street dealing, drug smuggling and sex work. Accounts from young people who were approached in Tenerife, Dubai and Thailand illustrate how attractive the offers can appear, while the cases of Bella Culley and Mia O’Brien show the potentially severe legal consequences. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office warns that drug offences abroad can lead to lengthy imprisonment or even the death penalty.

King Charles’s decision to strip Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of his titles and remove him from Royal Lodge is unlikely to satisfy younger people, who view the action as delayed, defensive and insufficiently focused on Epstein’s victims. Polling and interviews indicate a sharp generational divide over the monarchy, with Gen Z and Gen Alpha particularly concerned about inherited privilege, poverty, royal infighting and a lack of transparency. Younger people are more open to reform than abolition, but expect the royal family to disclose more about the Epstein scandal, show empathy toward people facing hardship and demonstrate genuine accountability. Harry is viewed by some as having a possible route back through his engagement with youth issues, although the broader royal rift makes the institution appear fractured. Without meaningful change, the monarchy risks losing the consent of younger generations.

Eyes Wide Shut has been reappraised by Gen Z as a cult film and a supposed key to understanding modern conspiracy theories, particularly those surrounding Jeffrey Epstein. Online audiences draw parallels between the film’s masked elite, Sydney Pollack’s character Victor Ziegler, Kubrick’s death and Epstein’s alleged trafficking network, while also advancing theories about the disappearance of the Harfords’ daughter. The film’s fairy-tale structure and themes of hidden power resonate with younger people who feel disenfranchised and distrustful of elites. Although many of the theories are unsupported, interest in Epstein has helped keep scrutiny on the scandal and gives believers a sense of collective resistance and control.

AI companion platforms are becoming popular among children and teenagers seeking friendship, advice and emotional support, particularly when they feel lonely, bullied or socially excluded. The article argues that these relationships are fundamentally different from imaginary friendships because technology companies control the bots and can design them to provide constant affirmation, potentially fostering dependency. Character.AI’s decision to ban under-18 users from November 25 follows a lawsuit brought by the parents of Sewell Setzer III, who died by suicide after developing an intense relationship with a chatbot. Although the ban and planned safeguards are presented as positive steps, concerns remain about underage users bypassing age restrictions, the effects on vulnerable and neurodivergent children, and the loss of resilience and interpersonal skills that develop through real-world relationships.

Homeschooling has risen sharply since the pandemic, reaching about 111,700 children in the UK in 2024 and an estimated 3.6 million in the US. Families cite school absence, mental-health difficulties, special educational needs, large classes, safety concerns and dissatisfaction with mainstream education, while some also cite religious, moral, anti-government or anti-vaccination beliefs. Supporters say homeschooling can improve wellbeing and tailor education, but it demands substantial time, money and teaching expertise and may leave teenagers socially isolated or missing school experiences. Safeguarding concerns, including the murder of Sara Sharif after her removal from school, have intensified calls for registers and greater local-authority oversight, although many homeschooling families oppose increased regulation.

The British monarchy faces a widening generational divide, with support substantially lower among Gen Z and Gen Alpha than among older Britons. Economic hardship, child poverty, inherited privilege, royal scandals and the public conflict between William and Harry have weakened young people’s connection to the institution. Recent Gen Z-led protests and the fall of governments abroad are presented as evidence of growing youth influence and potential political pressure. Surveys cited in the piece suggest that younger people favor modernizing the monarchy more than abolishing it, but want greater transparency, accountability and value for money. William’s public charm offensive and promise to become a “King of Change” may not be enough unless the royal family addresses these concerns.

University degrees remain valuable for students with a clear career goal, but rising costs, weak links between courses and employment, fierce competition and AI-driven reductions in entry-level work are increasing interest in apprenticeships and apprenticeship degrees. Demand for these routes is strong, particularly in IT, engineering, healthcare and construction, and the UK government plans £800m in additional investment and 14 Technical Excellence Colleges. However, opportunities remain scarce and are often captured by middle-class applicants with better-connected parents. The article argues that effective career guidance should begin in Years 9 or 10 and that schools, colleges, employers and government must collaborate to create visible, accessible school-to-work pathways.

A growing number of British schools are adopting “no-excuses” discipline systems involving strict movement, uniform and compliance rules, isolation and frequent sanctions. Supporters say these approaches build resilience and deliver strong academic results, particularly for disadvantaged pupils. Critics, parents and former students argue that the regimes cause anxiety, suppress creativity, disadvantage less-academic pupils and discriminate against children with SEND. Mossbourne schools in East London face safeguarding and independent reviews after allegations of systemic emotional harm, while advocates of inclusive models such as Passmores Academy argue that high academic expectations can coexist with empathy and meaningful support.

Black-pilling, a nihilistic and sometimes accelerationist online worldview, is presented as a possible lens for understanding the meme-laden culture surrounding the alleged murder of Charlie Kirk. The article argues that young people in gaming and social-media communities can encounter ironic, violent and politically ambiguous recruitment networks, while cautioning that ordinary gaming or meme use does not itself indicate radicalization. It recommends stronger real-world relationships and activities, closer but sensitive parental attention to online behavior, and broader access to safe youth spaces as protections against extremist recruitment.

Around 1.28 million UK pupils are persistently absent from school, with school refusal increasingly linked to anxiety, other mental-health difficulties, disrupted education during COVID-19 and the limitations of traditional schooling. Families describe severe distress and inadequate access to support, while mental-health services such as CAMHS face lengthy waiting lists and schools lack specialist staff and resources. Practitioners argue that attendance improves when parents, schools and students work together to address both home and school-related barriers, with early intervention and substantial investment needed to prevent missed education from becoming long-term social and economic disadvantage.

Gen Z, particularly young men, is increasingly receptive to Nigel Farage and Reform UK amid frustration over living costs, housing, employment prospects, immigration, crime and distrust of established politicians. Farage’s perceived authenticity, anti-elitism, popular-culture profile and social-media strategy help Reform reach a diverse coalition, even though its solutions are often untested or uncosted. The trend reflects wider youth support for right-wing populist movements in the United States and Europe, while left-wing figures still retain substantial appeal. Mainstream UK parties risk losing young voters unless they address economic insecurity and offer concrete improvements to housing, education and employment.

“Banksying” describes secretly preparing to end a relationship for weeks or months before abruptly dumping an unsuspecting partner, often with advice from AI tools and online communities. A case involving Rhiannon and Amir illustrates how social media can turn breakups into public humiliation and reward emotional manipulation. The trend is presented as part of a broader hostile dating culture shaped by algorithms, manosphere and femosphere influencers, and adversarial views of gender. The decline of traditional dating and courtship is argued to threaten trust, long-term relationships, family formation and, potentially, future population stability.

Teenagers interviewed for the piece view OnlyFans and similar platforms as potential routes to wealth, fame and financial security, often distinguishing them from pornography because celebrities and ordinary influencers use them. The article argues that creators such as Bonnie Blue, Lily Phillips and Annie Knight gain attention by performing increasingly extreme sexual stunts, despite the physical risks and broader consequences. It links this appeal to economic insecurity, declining faith in traditional employment and a culture that has elevated sex and celebrity above ordinary aspirations. The author contends that the manosphere and emerging femosphere reinforce each other’s harmful ideas, and calls for better education-to-work pathways, less alienating employment systems, and affordable housing to reduce young people’s attraction to dangerous get-rich-quick schemes.

For millions of children living in poverty across the UK, the six-week summer holiday can remove the structure, safety, hot meals and social support provided by school. Interviews with teenagers in Oldham, Brixton and north London describe boredom, unsafe streets, food insecurity, youth crime, exploitation and worsening anxiety, while rising costs and cuts to youth services have reduced affordable activities. The piece argues that prolonged aimlessness contributes to poor mental health and antisocial behaviour, and criticizes the lack of priority given to free youth spaces and holiday provision. Community initiatives such as the National Lottery-funded GameChangers project and school-run summer programmes offer some hope, but broader action on child poverty and youth services is presented as necessary.

Sibling relationships are becoming more socially and practically important for younger generations as children spend more time at home, share friendship groups, remain with parents longer and increasingly consider living with or buying property alongside siblings. Although sibling bonds can involve rivalry, jealousy and perceived parental favoritism, they also provide shared history, emotional support and long-term trust. Falling marriage rates, high housing costs, family estrangement and growing interest in therapy are likely to intensify both the dependence on and strain within sibling relationships over the next decade.

The widespread availability of hardcore pornography to teenagers is presented as both a cause and symptom of broader problems, including misogyny, sexual violence, distorted expectations about consent, gender division and the attention-driven extremism of online culture. The author argues that technology companies and governments have largely failed to protect young people because teenage attention and sexuality are commercially valuable. Pornography, reality television such as Love Island, and platforms such as OnlyFans are portrayed as part of a wider normalization and commodification of sex. The proposed remedy is to move youth understandings of sex away from violence, humiliation and unequal power dynamics toward pleasure, consent, intimacy and personal development, with Normal People offered as a positive cultural example.

Gen Z women are becoming more open to age-gap relationships when older partners appear more emotionally mature, feminist or ideologically compatible than men their own age. The shift is illustrated by enthusiasm for the relationship between Rick and Chelsea in The White Lotus and by Bumble’s reported rise in “gen-blend” dating. The article argues that growing political and cultural differences between young men and women—shaped by figures such as Joe Rogan and Andrew Tate, alongside economic and technological changes—are making peer relationships harder. Age differences are not inherently harmful, but equal power, respect and mutual needs remain essential; the wider gender divide may contribute to declining relationship formation, lower birth rates and pessimism among young people.

Russell Brand's growing popularity among young men is attributed to his anti-establishment, conspiratorial rhetoric, which frames followers as victims of a hostile system while offering simple explanations for economic and social frustrations. The piece argues that Brand's alleged misogynistic cues, Christian rebranding and denial of serious sexual charges reinforce his appeal to devoted supporters, who interpret legal scrutiny as proof of a conspiracy. His popularity is presented as a symptom of broader failures involving housing, education, employment, healthcare and relationships; unless mainstream institutions respond effectively, figures such as Brand, Andrew Tate and Donald Trump are likely to retain influence.

Snapchat has become the dominant communication platform for many British Generation Alpha teenagers, but its private-group design, disappearing messages, location sharing, streaks and coded interactions can facilitate bullying and intensify social anxiety. The article focuses on Snapchat’s paid Peek a Peek feature, which alerts users when someone is half-swiping to preview a message, arguing that it encourages teenagers to watch their phones constantly and turns fears about rejection and romance into a source of revenue. Teen accounts illustrate how the feature and the pressure of being left on read can disrupt sleep, school and offline experiences, while Snapchat+ revenue reportedly rose by more than 131 per cent after the tracker was introduced.

A screening of Adolescence with 103 teenagers and young adults suggests that many young people recognize the appeal and damage of Andrew Tate-style manosphere culture, while others reject it. Participants said bans can reinforce feelings of persecution and make influencers seem more powerful, whereas non-judgmental discussion, mentorship and positive real-world communities may be more effective. The piece argues that schools, clubs, churches and youth services should provide connection, purpose and role models, while adults should help young people understand how influencers and technology companies commercialize their anger and loneliness.

Netflix’s Adolescence illustrates how a seemingly ordinary teenage boy can be shaped by the manosphere and “red-pill” ideology into violence against women. The piece argues that years of algorithm-driven social media exposure, online tribalism and the erosion of traditional media gatekeeping have normalized toxic masculinity and deepened divisions between young men and women. It links these trends to cases such as Kyle Clifford’s murders and calls for delaying children’s access to smartphones, regulating social media companies, holding technology firms accountable, and encouraging parents to promote critical thinking and real-world relationships.

A reporter investigates the relationship between young men, dangerous dogs and urban street culture in east London. Interviews with teenagers reveal that dogs are valued for protection, status, intimidation, debt settlement and profit, while illegal fights are linked to gambling, rivalries and violence. The article places these accounts alongside UK laws banning dog-fighting and certain breeds, rising dog-attack figures, and concerns from the RSPCA and Battersea about the growing use of dogs in violence.

Young women involved in London crews and gangs describe robbery, drug dealing, violence, weapons and the pressure to gain status in male-dominated networks. The piece highlights how many girls come from backgrounds of abuse, neglect and trauma, yet cautions against treating them solely as victims because some are also drawn to the money, fear and respect gang life provides. Former gang member Margaret explains how exploitation, rape, honey-trapping and criminal activity can rapidly erase a girl’s childhood and prospects. The article concludes that female gang culture is shaped by both coercion and agency, with men retaining much of the power while girls face severe violence and limited alternatives.

Teenagers in London are spending nights riding buses because they are unable or unwilling to return home, using affordable Oyster-card travel as a substitute for shelter. The practice, known as “bussing,” reflects family breakdown, poverty, school disengagement, fear of crime and a lack of safe alternatives. Charities warn that young people who are not visibly sleeping rough may be overlooked by authorities, while the teenagers describe buses as both refuge and lookout posts amid territorial conflicts and wider criminal pressures.