New
New
Year 11

Online groups and radicalisation

I can explain what incel ideology is, identify the dangers associated with it, and describe strategies to protect myself and others from radicalisation.

New
New
Year 11

Online groups and radicalisation

I can explain what incel ideology is, identify the dangers associated with it, and describe strategies to protect myself and others from radicalisation.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. 'Incel' means 'involuntary celibate' and is a term linked to online communities that promote hatred towards women.
  2. Incel ideology promotes violence, blame and extreme beliefs.
  3. Grooming often starts with trust-building, then isolation and manipulation.
  4. Radicalisers use coded language and emotional manipulation to influence others.
  5. There are ways to stay safe, such as questioning content, talking to trusted adults and reporting harmful behaviour.

Keywords

  • Incel - a person who self-identifies as an 'involuntary celibate' and believes that they are unable to form romantic or sexual relationships, often blaming women for this

  • Misogyny - hatred or prejudice against women, often shown through negative beliefs or actions

  • Radicalisation - the process by which someone comes to adopt extreme political, social or religious views

  • Grooming - when an adult builds trust with a young person to manipulate them for harmful purposes, often leading to abuse or exploitation

Common misconception

Only socially isolated or unpopular individuals become radicalised.

Radicalisation can affect anyone, regardless of social status or popularity. It's essential to understand behaviours, not stereotypes, to identify risks accurately.


To help you plan your year 11 RSHE (PSHE) lesson on: Online groups and radicalisation, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

The content of this lesson is sensitive. Please speak to your RSHE Lead and/or DSL before teaching this lesson.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sexual violence
  • Depiction or discussion of sexual content
  • Depiction or discussion of serious crime

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
A secure website uses HTTPS and has a symbol in the address bar.
Correct Answer: padlock
Q2.
Match the online risk to its correct description.
Correct Answer:phishing,messages or calls sent to trick people

messages or calls sent to trick people

Correct Answer:identity theft,when someone uses your personal info to pretend to be you

when someone uses your personal info to pretend to be you

Correct Answer:fake websites,sites that look real but are made to trick you into giving away info

sites that look real but are made to trick you into giving away info

Q3.
Amira wants to avoid online scams. Which of these actions would help her stay safer?
using the same password for all accounts
ignoring two-factor authentication
Correct answer: using strong passwords
Correct answer: turning on two-factor authentication
clicking on every link in her emails
Q4.
Why are some online scams difficult to spot?
they are only sent to adults
Correct answer: they look very realistic
they only happen on gaming websites
they're always easy to spot
Q5.
Elliot clicks a link in a message claiming he's won a prize. The site asks for his login details and bank information. What online risk is he facing?
Correct answer: phishing
safe browsing
cookie tracking
file sharing
Q6.
HTTPS stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol ...
Correct Answer: Secure

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Radicalisation can affect , regardless of social status or popularity.
Correct Answer: anyone
Q2.
Match the term to the definition.
Correct Answer:incel,a person who self-identifies as an 'involuntary celibate'

a person who self-identifies as an 'involuntary celibate'

Correct Answer:grooming,when an adult builds trust with a young person to manipulate them

when an adult builds trust with a young person to manipulate them

Correct Answer:misogyny,hatred or prejudice against women

hatred or prejudice against women

Q3.
What is a common early tactic used by someone grooming a young person online?
publicly shaming them to control their behaviour
Correct answer: building trust before isolating and manipulating them
asking for money or gifts straight away
Q4.
How might someone trying to radicalise others make their ideas seem more acceptable?
Correct answer: they use coded language and emotions
they ask teachers to share their views in class
they send long, boring paragraphs of text
Q5.
What is one way you can stay safe when exposed to harmful online content?
share it with others so they can decide for themselves
keep quiet and ignore it to avoid causing trouble
Correct answer: talk to a trusted adult, question the content and report it
Q6.
A classmate starts using unusual phrases and referencing ideas that seem extreme or hateful. What might this be a sign of?
they’re just exploring new internet trends
Correct answer: they may be repeating radical content they’ve seen online
they are trying to impress others with complex language