Expert in Masculinity Calls for Urgent Meeting with Prime Minister to Tackle ‘Toxic' Masculinity Crisis

By Education Editor

After the Murder of His Sister, Andrew ‘Bernie’ Bernard is Fighting to Stop the Radicalisation of Young Men Online

A leading educator and speaker on masculinity and male well-being, Andrew ‘Bernie’ Bernard, an Associate with Independent Thinking, is calling for an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister to address the escalating crisis of what’s being called toxic masculinity, fuelled by social media and online radicalisation.

Bernie, who has worked with over 56,000 young people in schools, believes that unchecked online influences, coercive control, and dominance-based masculinity are driving a new wave of misogyny, violence, and alienation among boys and men and causing harm to women and girls.

His mission is personal—his sister, Sarah Gosling, was murdered in 2002 by a coercively controlling partner.

“Young men are being shaped by social media algorithms that push them towards toxic beliefs, and it’s happening at an alarming rate. This isn’t just a social issue—it’s a national crisis.”

Bernie’s work highlights the connection between technology, social isolation, and male identity crises. He argues that adolescent boys—often left alone in their rooms, immersed in radicalising online content while parents assume they are “quiet and safe”—are being drawn into destructive ideologies.

Independent Thinking: Leading the Change

Bernie is part of Independent Thinking, a pioneering organisation that has, for over 30 years, brought together world-leading experts in education, each tackling critical issues from mental health to social justice, masculinity, and education reform.

The organisation challenges outdated approaches to education, offering practical solutions to the most pressing issues facing young people today.

Through Independent Thinking, Bernard and his fellow thought leaders are reshaping how schools, parents, and policymakers address male identity and ‘toxic' masculinity, working towards a future where boys grow up with emotional intelligence, respect, and resilience.

From Boys to Men: What Needs to Change and What Schools Can Do About it

Bernard’s forthcoming book, Boys to Men, lays out a blueprint for schools and parents to tackle these issues head-on. He is calling for:

• Stronger parental awareness of how tech and social media shape young male identity

  Giving teachers the tools and knowledge to open discussions with young people about misogyny.

• Education reform to teach boys emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and healthy masculinity.

• Legislation to hold tech companies accountable for harmful content that radicalises young men.

• A national conversation on coercive control, its impact on relationships, and how to prevent it.

“This Is Only the Tip of the Iceberg”

Data suggests that of the 27% of young people in a recent survey from the YEF who were in relationships, 49% had experienced coercive control and abusive behaviours from partners, a reality that Bernard says is fuelled by the unchecked power of social media algorithms and narratives pushed by many influencers.

“We’re facing a generational crisis where unhealthy masculinity is harming everyone—men, women, families, and society as a whole. The conversation can’t wait any longer.”

Pushing for Action: A Direct Appeal to the Prime Minister

Bernard, alongside Independent Thinking, is urging the Prime Minister and the Education Secretary to take immediate action, starting with policy changes to:

• Regulate online content that promotes ‘toxic' masculinity.

• Fund school programs that challenge harmful gender norms and stereotypes and instead focus on the development of empathy..

• Support parents and teachers in having open conversations about masculinity and respect.

With TikTok closed down temporarily in the US, Bernard is also pushing for accountability from social media giants, warning that platforms must change urgently or face being switched off in the UK.

His message is gaining traction in the media, and he is determined to spread awareness in any way possible.

“Masculinity isn’t about control—it’s about character. We have to stop young men from being pulled into toxic ideologies before it’s too late.” 

See Independent Thinking at www.independentthinking.co.uk