U.K. Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride has attributed a rise in joblessness among young men to pornography and video games, citing these as factors in a mental health crisis. His comments follow official figures indicating a significant number of young people are not engaged in education, employment, or training.

Minister Links Adult Content to Economic Inactivity

Mel Stride, the U.K.’s Work and Pensions Secretary, stated this week that "pornography and video games" are fueling a "mental health crisis among young men," which he claims is leading to their withdrawal from the workforce. Stride, a Conservative politician since 2006, made these remarks in response to official data showing that nearly a million British individuals aged 16 to 24 were not in education, employment, or training during the first quarter of 2024.

The Office for National Statistics reported that from January to March 2024, 900,000 young people in this age bracket were classified as ‘NEET’ (not in education, employment, or training). This represents an increase of approximately 88,000 from the previous year, when the figure stood at 812,000.

Speaking to the work and pensions select committee, Stride theorized that while women’s mental health has been impacted by "unrealistic ideals portrayed on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram," for young men, "things like gaming, and certainly pornography and things like that, is a more prevalent factor." He suggested that social media and technology have led to a "very worrying" increase in mental health conditions among young people, which is driving economic inactivity.

Stride also proposed that more research into technology is needed to address the country’s economic and labor decline. He stated, "I do think probably as a society we haven’t explored and fully opened up exactly what this technology means for young people’s mental health because I think the impacts are actually very profound and probably an area where there needs to be more research."

Political Context and Previous Controversies

Stride’s comments come as the Conservative government, which has been in power for 14 uninterrupted years since 2010, faces scrutiny over economic and labor policies. General Elections have been called for July, and the current Sunak administration has been criticized for inefficiency.

Stride has held various positions in three Conservative governments since 2015. His roles include Lord Commissioner of the Treasury under David Cameron (2015-2016), Comptroller of the Household, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Paymaster General, and Leader of the House of Commons under Theresa May (2016-2019). He was appointed Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in October 2022.

Last month, Stride generated controversy with statements regarding financial support for the mentally ill, which the opposition described as "a full-on assault on disabled people." This week, Stride deflected blame from Conservative policies for the current employment statistics, instead pointing to social media and technology as causes for the rise in mental health issues among young people.

The Sunak government, which came to power in late 2022, has faced challenges. One of its legislative achievements was the 2023 passage of the Online Safety Act, which instituted government censorship of adult content deemed "harmful to minors."

Key Facts

  • Mel Stride, U.K. Work and Pensions Secretary, attributed a "mental health crisis among young men" to "pornography and video games."
  • Stride claims this crisis is causing young men to leave the workforce.
  • Official figures for January to March 2024 show 900,000 young people aged 16 to 24 were not in education, employment, or training.
  • This figure represents an increase of 88,000 from the previous year.
  • Stride suggested more research is needed into the impact of technology on young people's mental health.
  • The Online Safety Act, passed in 2023, instituted government censorship of adult content considered "harmful to minors."