On this week’s Parenting segment, one parent is worried about their son's love of Andrew Tate.

“My 16-year-old son thinks Andrew Tate is a good role model,” they told Moncrieff. 

“I would love to know how to deal with this, as I know the conversation around telling my son who he can and can’t like can be complicated. 

“I’ve explained several times to him why I don’t think it’s appropriate for him to watch Andrew’s videos, but he and his friends seem to be blinded by the whole thing.” 

Simple messaging

Child psychotherapist Joanna Fortune said this problem is something “a lot of parents can relate to”. 

“There’s a reason that Andrew Tate is as well-known and as big a deal as he is,” she said. 

“I might find Tate's messaging toxic or whatever it is, but the simplicity of his message makes him very accessible for a particular demographic – your son and his friends are that demographic. 

“He also prepares his followers for parents and people who are going to disagree with him and challenge the messaging. 

“So, when you come and say it’s offensive for this reason, and that reason, and the other reason they're prepared for that, and you get the eye roll.” 

Andrew Tate and his brother leave the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism, 25/01/2023. Image: lcv / Alamy Stock Photo

Joanna said it’s important to make sure the son doesn’t feel attacked when you try to address Andrew Tate with him. 

“I'm wondering if you could approach this with curiosity,” Joanna said.  

“Instead of just coming in with your thoughts and opinions and explanations, get curious about what is it about Andrew Tate’s messages that are really ringing through your son. 

“And then get curious again, about what examples he has of how true this is in the real world and in his real life.” 

Joanna also recommended subtly pointing the son in the direction of other role models. 

“We do need, from a media perspective, to get better at platforming positive male role models, especially in this context,” she said. 

“Andrew Tate is resonating with teenage boys in a way that they're like, ‘I can't tell you what I like them, but I just know that I do’.”