Former England football manager Sir Gareth Southgate has expressed his concerns about young men spending excessive time engrossed in gaming, gambling, and pornography, emphasizing their need for better role models beyond online influencers. He voiced these concerns during a wide-ranging speech at the BBC's annual Richard Dimbleby Lecture, highlighting the potential negative impact of these digital distractions on their development.
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03-20, 2025Southgate reflected on his experience of missing a crucial penalty in the 1996 European Championship, stating that he did not allow it to define him. He stressed that Britain needs to do more to encourage young people, particularly young men, to make the right choices in life and not be afraid of failure. "That pain still haunts me," he said, "and I suspect it always will."
Sir Gareth pointed out that many young men are turning to the internet for guidance instead of teachers, sports coaches, or youth group leaders. There, they find a new type of role model, but these figures often do not genuinely care about their best interests. He warned, "These are ruthless, manipulative, and toxic influencers whose only motivation is their own self-interest."
He further explained that these influencers can mislead young men into believing that success is measured by money or dominance, that being strong means never expressing emotions, and that the whole world, including women, is against them. Sir Gareth also shared lessons he learned from his football career, saying, "If I've learned anything from my football career, it's that success is about far more than the final score. True success lies in how you respond in the toughest moments."
Sir Gareth's speech emphasized the importance of belief and resilience for young men, and he proposed three elements needed to cultivate these qualities: identity, connection, and culture. He cited a report that indicated boys and young men are in "crisis," with an "alarming" increase in those not in education, employment, or training. He called for a collective effort from society to create a better environment for young men to grow, helping them build positive values and healthy lifestyles.
