Many weeks have passed since I wrote my first blog post on Andrew Tate, a online figure radicalizing many young boys with misogynist messaging. I have spent hours talking to teens, young men and women, and doing even more research into Tate to gain further insight. This subject is so important and urgent that I decided to share some of the new strategies that I find help start discussions in classrooms where Tate is becoming a problem, there are complaints, or you simply have a lot of ‘Top G’ fans. 

A GREAT STARTER EXERCISE TO GET CONVERSATIONS GOING:

This is a very simple exercise using three corners of any room. If the group is very large, this is easier to do in a gym or a flex room. 

Make three signs and place them either far away from each other or in three different corners. They should state: Strongly Agree, Agree and Disagree.

Then read out one of the statements found below. Give the students a few minutes to think about them without moving and then give them a sign to go. You can just clap and say “move,” or use a gong, a whistle, a bell to make it feel like a game. 

The students should find their way without looking at their friends. While the students are in their corners, give them a chance to discuss their difference of opinions.

Statements:

Boys/men sometimes trick girls/women into getting what they want.

Girls/women sometimes trick boys/men into getting what they want.

Boys are smarter than girls.

Girls don’t know how to fight.

It's okay for a guy to cheat on his girlfriend but it's not okay for a girl to cheat on him.

Men/boys are lonelier than women/girls.

Girls speak more in class.

Men/boys are less liked by teachers in school.

Women/girls have to worry about getting groped at a club.

Next, do a non-judgemental fact-checking exercise. You have two choices here that will depend on your time and your style. 

1. This is, in my opinion, the better option: Start by telling two or three short examples of times when you found out that other people have given misleading or even fake information. I use personal experiences that the students will appreciate. It can be as simple as misleading information in a speech, it could be inflated info on a Linkedin profile - it just needs to be from you and relatable. If I am doing the workshop, I explain to them how I fact checked a video on Andrew Tate. This took me about three hours to do. I explain his story without judgment. I also clearly state what facts I was able to find out. Many boys are surprised that he made his first million as an e-pimp. They are horrified when I tell them Tate asked his girlfriends (plural) to engage in online services and told them to trick men. I stay calm as I explain this. As little emotion as possible is needed to make this work. Then I move very calmly through the different things Tate says, keeping some positive things but showing when he has manipulated his followers and content. 

The next step is important: I give them time and space to educate me. If the students think I am wrong, I ask them to show me the data and reiterate that I would be happy to change my mind. I focus on facts, which isn’t always easy, as there are some outlandish claims being spread. You need to be prepared. 

2. Ask the students to give examples of times when they were disappointed as they found out someone was giving them misleading or fake information. Listen and engage. Next, ask students to fact check certain comments Andrew Tate has made. Guide them if they struggle.

Many people, teens included, are jumping on a bandwagon without checking the facts. They are simply not aware and fact checking is something that takes time, practice and is a bit of a pain.

Helpful information to prepare this course:

True things Andrew Tate says

• Vaping isn’t good for young men.

• Sports and physical activity help with depression thanks to dopamine release through sports.

• Cold showers are good and give you a long dopamine boost.

• Some of his worst videos have been clipped, unfortunately leaving out bits of things he says.

• He claims you should be accountable for your actions and take responsibility. 

• Young men are feeling disadvantaged right now, and feel women have this easier. (Even though I do not fully believe this to be true, I understand the sentiment behind what Tate states as a fact of our times).

Let me be clear. I do not like Andrew Tate, but to make an impact, I must understand why these young men like him and acknowledge the emotions behind their allegiance to him and his views.

Facts which teens often do not know or understand:

• Tate leaked a video or had a video leaked where he was beating a woman with a belt. 

• Tate made his first million with a website service similar to OnlyFans, using his former girlfriends. Yes, the girlfriends agreed, but they got less money and he asked them to lie to the men about family members being ill to reap in more profits. The men were so enamored by these young women who were telling sob stories as they stripped that they emptied their wallets. Here Tate is being unfair not only to women but also to the men he claims to help by stealing their money and tricking them. In essence, he is an e-pimp.

• Andrew Tate claims to be the most famous person on the internet. The truth is he was simply more googled than Donald Trump and Kim Kardashian when he was going viral online in July 2022. Being googled does not make someone famous, and this is misleading content.

• Part of the reason he went viral was because people from Hustlers University were paid to make videos about him and post them online to help him gain popularity. 

• Andrew Tate claims that depression is not real. This claim is against all research evidence and shocking in itself. He also says that doing sports can help relieve depression, which is true, but it is false and harmful to say depression doesn’t exist. Also, by saying depression can be relieved by sports he is acknowledging that it exists, defeating his own argument.

• Tate is interested in filling his own pockets with money, which is why he started Hustlers University. I have watched a few classes that he offers, and I wouldn’t want any young teen signing up for these courses. The name ‘Hustlers University’ says it all.

• Tate says Covid-19 does not exist.

• Tate claims that people are trying to kill him because he is like Socrates, in that he is spreading wisdom that is unpopular. 

If you are struggling with students being indoctrinated by Andrew Tate, I hope this helps. If you like my blog posts, please sign up to my newsletter and spread the word. You could also buy me a virtual coffee–our team would appreciate the support.

NEW POST PUBLISHED ON APRIL 17TH: Help MY CHILD LOVES ANDREW TATE. CLICK TO READ.

–Allison Ochs, social pedagogue/worker, author, mother of three, wife

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