A disturbing new report from the National Crime Agency (NCA) 2025, titled ‘Serious and Organised Crime’, reveals a deeply concerning shift in the digital landscape, particularly among young men. It uncovers the rapid rise of so-called ‘com networks’ -tightly-knit online groups operating across social media and messaging platforms that circulate harmful content, promote misogynistic ideologies, and groom participants into abusive or violent behaviour.
These networks, thriving in secrecy and driven by algorithms that reward extreme content, are not only spreading toxic beliefs but are actively manipulating vulnerable individuals into harmful actions. The implications for young people - particularly girls and marginalised groups - are profound and far-reaching.
This article examines the mechanisms behind these networks, their devastating impact on young people, and the urgent steps schools, parents, and policymakers must take to dismantle their influence and protect those most at risk. The time for discussion is over - it's time to act. Here’s what schools need to know…
The victimisation of girls
The NCA report noted that com networks ‘increased six-fold between 2022 and 2024, involving thousands of users and victims, and this rapid expansion suggests an escalating problem, with more individuals being drawn into these spaces. Extreme and illicit imagery depicting violence, gore, and child sexual abuse material is frequently shared among users, normalising and desensitising participants to increasingly extreme content and behaviours.
Whilst anyone can be drawn into these networks, they do pose disproportionate levels of harm to young girls specifically. The conversation is becoming more prevalent, with the rise of anti-feminist influencers and TV shows like ‘Adolescence’ bringing these issues to the fore.
The NCA noted that members are using ‘extreme coercion’ to manipulate victims, including girls as young as 11, into ‘harming or abusing themselves, their siblings or pets’. These girls are then often re-victimised through doxing or appropriation by other offenders.
The misogynistic undertones of ‘com networks’, in which young men are motivated by status, power, control, sexual gratification, or an obsession with extreme or violent material, is fuelling an online environment in which girls face heightened risks. It’s not only normalising the mistreatment of women – it’s fostering a new generation of offenders who view control through these methods as an intoxicating form of power.
The problem in schools
Researchers from the University of York surveyed 200 teachers to understand the scale of the problem in schools, and teachers’ perceptions of its influence. The report revealed that 60 per cent of primary school teachers and 76 per cent of secondary school teachers were ‘extremely concerned about the influence of online misogyny’.
In addition to this, more than two thirds of primary school teachers said they ‘would benefit from teaching materials to address online misogyny’, and 90 per cent of secondary school teachers agreed. Qoria’s own data revealed that 65% of schools regularly incidents of students possessing, sharing, or requesting nude content.
The data highlights a critical gap between education and intervention. If teachers themselves do not feel equipped to tackle these issues, it suggests that schools lack the necessary tools and guidance to address the growing influence of ‘com’ networks and harmful online communities.
The rise of these communities and the research underscores the need for structured, age-appropriate education on digital safety, and sufficient support and tools for teachers so that they are equipped to detect issues at an early stage.
The need for intervention
While these communities may seem daunting to confront, exposing their hidden networks and the real dangers they pose is the first step in dismantling their influence and safeguarding young people from digital coercion and harm.
As these networks expand online, their impact is deeply felt in our schools and among young people - they cannot be dismissed as issues confined to the dark corners of the internet.
Addressing this growing crisis requires a collective effort from parents, educators, and policymakers. This means equipping students with stronger digital literacy, enforcing legal frameworks, utilising technology to prevent or intervene in young people's access, assisting in holding perpetrators accountable, and providing teachers with the guidance and resources they need to navigate these challenges in the classroom.
At Smoothwall, we’re here to help you keep children safe and thriving in their digital lives. If you’re a school that would like to learn more about this issue, or share your challenges, reach out to us via this form and we’ll be in touch. We look forward to supporting you and your school community.
