The Soaring Use of Homophobic Lingo in Schools and Social Media
An Unnerving Investigation by F.F. Mboup
Soaring incidence of derogatory anti-gay language observed among London schools by educators.
Updated Nov 4, 2024 at 10:32 AM
Reading Time: 4 Minutes
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A newly released investigation by charity group Just Like Us reveals a troubling increase in the utilization of homophobic language among children, with seven out of ten nine to 11-year-olds admitting to hearing such hate speech within school confines. A staggering 78% of primary school students and 80% of secondary school pupils have reported hearing derogatory homophobic slurs, with the term "gay" being repeatedly used as an offensive epithet.
A whopping 31,000 UK students—4,307 of whom are aged between 9 to 11—took part in the survey, and the results paint a highly disturbing picture of young people's lives being infiltrated by an oppressive language. A considerable number of students pinpoint social media, particularly TikTok, as a source of exposure to this hateful speech, with many expressing a lack of comprehension regarding the meaning or impact of the words they parrot back.
TikTok, which has faced criticism for hosting content that perpetuates damaging stereotypes, asserts that its community guidelines explicitly bar hateful slurs based on sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity. However, despite these strict policies, young individuals are still coming across, internalizing, and imitating derogatory language from viral trends on the app.
A study carried out by Western Sydney University shed light on the experiences of Australian high school students, revealing that a staggering 90% of LGBTQIA+ students have encountered homophobic language at school, with more than one in three facing slurs daily. While these alarming revelations were made, only a mere 6% of gender-diverse and sexually non-conforming students claimed that teachers consistently intervened in these incidents, with some even reporting instances of adult participation in the bullying.
The findings showed that nearly 30% of respondents reported experiencing or witnessing physical harassment aimed at gay, lesbian, and bisexual students.
The Failure of Social Media and School Environments
Web-based non-profit Media Matters discovered that interacting with just one video that contained anti-LGBTQIA+ undercurrents resulted in a deluge of similar content on users' feeds. These FYPs, which are curated by TikTok's algorithm based on user interactions, have rapidly become saturated with harmful content. Common themes within this territory encompassed videos that glorify violence against LGBTQIA+ people and the celebration of homophobic language or actions.
The report raises alarms about the potential real-world consequences of such content, citing research that links increased violent rhetoric to spikes in physical attacks.
Unfortunately, TikTok's troublesome content moderation issues do not seem to be confined to the promotion of hate speech. An investigation conducted by The Intercept in 2020 revealed that TikTok moderators were instructed to suppress and censor certain posts, including those featuring individuals deemed "ugly" or "obese," as well as videos filmed in settings perceived as impoverished. This policy served as part of an effort to preserve the polished image on the platform, thus giving rise to concerns about discrimination and the reinforcement of harmful stereotypes.
Now, I'm not here to jump on the anti-TikTok bandwagon. It's no secret that most social media platforms have dropped the ball when it comes to protecting users and safeguarding their rights. Whether it's Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube, all these platforms have a history of mishandling crucial matters. But in this specific case, the spotlight should be on TikTok due to its predominantly young audience, rendering the issue even more concerning given the potential for damaging content to reach young users speedily.
To gain a deeper understanding of the trials and tribulations faced by students in regards to this issue, this author sat down with a secondary school geography teacher who chose to remain anonymous. Below, you'll find the insights she shared when questioned about the topic:
How often do you observe or hear homophobic language being used by your students?
"Homophobic language is something we observe on a weekly basis at school. It's become far too commonplace in students' casual conversations."
What steps should schools implement to effectively combat and address this issue?
"Teachers must speak out against the use of homophobic language and enforce consequences for its use. It is crucial that schools develop protocols aimed at tackling the issue of homophobic bullying, providing students and staff with the confidence that reported incidents are acknowledged and acted upon appropriately."
"However, education beyond proper procedures is necessary too. This education can be facilitated through comprehensive sex education programs, as well as one-on-one conversations with students following incidents. Without education, students may lack the understanding of the impact of their words."
Do you believe that teachers and staff are given adequate training or support in dealing with these types of incidents? What additional resources or assistance would be valuable?
"Additional training for teachers would prove to be beneficial. Clear, consistent anti-bullying policies should be implemented in all schools. Effective policies should outline the procedures for recording and addressing incidents, the penalties for employing discriminatory language, and the resources available to students and staff who have been affected."
As we delve deeper into the escalating use of homophobic speech among children, it is clear that we cannot dismiss this matter as mere youthful indiscretion. With 78% of primary school students and 80% of secondary students reporting encounters with homophobic slurs in school settings, it is a pressing issue that demands attention. Teachers are on the frontlines, confronting this toxic environment while advocating for real change. Our interactions with educators underscore a pressing need for schools to confront the issue head-on, not solely through policies, but also through constructive conversations that strike a chord with students.
And yes, teachers are endeavoring to mold respectful learning environments, but this broader conversation extends beyond schools to encompass media outlets and societal norms shaping student behavior.
- The investigation by charity group Just Like Us reveals an increase in the use of homophobic language among children, not just within school confines, but also in general-news contexts such as social media.
- The study by Western Sydney University highlights that Australian high school students, like their counterparts in the UK, face homophobic language not only in schools but also across various media platforms, creating a wider issue that needs to be addressed in political discourse.
