- Zoella, the early YouTube mega-star, will be deleted from the British school material for teenagers because of her ‘adult’ content.
- The UK Examination Board AQA has told school teachers that they are addressing parents ‘parents’ problems.
- The letter, seen by Insider, does not specify what content, but Zoella has posted a message about sex toys in the past.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Zoella, the 30-year-old YouTuber with millions of young followers, is removed from the official UK education material for teenagers after parents and teachers expressed concern about the adult content she posted.
In a letter to teachers this week, the UK’s largest examination board, AQA, said it would remove her from material given to students aged 14 to 16 who take the GCSE qualification for media studies.
Zoella, real name Zoe Sugg, was one of the UK’s earliest and biggest social media stars and raised millions of pounds through advertising and merchandise sales.
She also posts regularly on Instagram, where it is estimated that she can earn more than £ 22,000 per sponsored post.
Although the letter does not specify what specific material Sugg published, her outputs have evolved over the years. Sugg was a teenager when she first started making videos, and mainly posted about her favorite beauty products. Two weeks ago, she posted a blog on her website setting up the best vibrators to make “lockdown 3.0” […] an unbridled one. ‘
In the letter from AQA, seen by Insider, Sandra Allan, head of the curriculum for creative arts, told teachers that the exam board will remove Zoella from future curricula because ‘some of Zoella’s recent content is specifically aimed at an adult audience. is and is not suitable for GCSE students. “
A copy of the letter AQA sent to teachers regarding the removal of Zoella from their teaching materials
AQA
Allan said teachers and parents expressed their concern, adding: “We share these concerns, so we are now taking the necessary steps to remove Zoella from our 2021 and 2022 assessment materials.”
Sugg is highlighted in AQA’s Close Study Products booklet – which AQA calls ‘a starting point for media product analysis as part of the course.’ These references would be struck immediately, Allan wrote.
“We realize that students have already studied Zoella by 2021 or 2022,” she continued. “As you know, there will be no exams this summer – and we will not punish any student who refers to her answers in 2022.”
In a statement, Allan told Insider: ‘GCSE Media Studies includes the analysis of online and social media and we added Zoella in 2017.
‘At the time, all of its content was suitable for teaching, but some of Zoella’s recent content is specifically aimed at an adult audience and is not suitable for GCSE students.
“As a result, we removed the Zoella section of the course and contacted our schools and colleges to let them know.”
Zoella’s content developed as she got older
Sugg first launched her YouTube channel for fashion, beauty and lifestyle at the age of 19 in 2009. Her vlogging won a Teen Choice Award and Nickelodeon Kids’ Award for her in 2014.
But Sugg began to focus on adult themes as she and her fanbase grew older. She has become the digital ambassador for mental health charity Mind. She recently campaigned to raise awareness of revenge porn.
When asked to comment on Madeam’s talent director at Gleam, who represents Sugg, Zoe said: ‘As a woman in her thirties who’s been creating content for over ten years, Zoe naturally grew and developed during that time. , just like her audience. . “
Chester added that the sex toy series’ appears on the lifestyle website originally founded by Zoe and now being put together by her and her team that covers topics of mental health, fertility, sex, recipes, books, beauty and fashion.
“The site is primarily targeted at their largest demographics of 25-34 year old women.”
One teacher, who teaches media studies at a level, the successor to GCSE studied by 16- to 18-year-olds, said the removal is ‘understandable’ for GCSE students.
But he hoped it would not be removed for A Levels, adding: ‘Many of the young people are already familiar with Zoella and will probably come across this kind of article anyway.
“While I can see how these topics can be handled poorly, it is safe to discuss them in a safe way.”