The Government cannot "shrug our shoulders" and ignore the problems affecting the attitudes of young boys to girls, the Prime Minister has insisted.
Sir Keir Starmer said he recognises that “we may have a problem with boys and young men that we need to address”.
But he rejected the idea creating a "Minister for Men" position in his Government, saying: "I don't think that's the answer".
It follows the Netflix drama Adolescence, which has sparked conversations about how social media is fuelling incel (involuntary celibate) ideas that encourage men to blame women if they lack opportunities.
The fictional story is about a 13-year-old boy who is accused of stabbing a girl, and the factors that could have turned him into a killer.
Sir Keir suggested footballers and athletes could be inspiring role models for boys and young men rather than online influencers.
But he added that there was also a need for inspirational people in communities.
Asked who the British male role models were, the PM told BBC Radio 5 Live on Monday: "I always go to sport for this.
“Footballers, athletes, I think they are role models.
“But I also think if you actually ask a young person, they're more likely to identify somebody who's in their school, a teacher, or somebody who maybe is a sports coach, something like that.
"So we need to make sure that - this is something that dads do, dad would reach for a sort of sporting hero - I think children, young people, are more likely to reach someone closer to them, within their school, within their community.
"And that's, I think, where we need to do some of the work."
His comments came after former England football manager Sir Gareth Southgate said many young men were turning to "manipulative and toxic influencers" because of a lack of role models.
Sir Keir told BBC Radio 5 Live he had spoken to Sir Gareth about the issue.
"I am worried about this, I've got a 16-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl," he added.
"There's a reason why the debate has suddenly sparked into life on this and that's because I think a lot of parents, a lot of people who work with young people at school or elsewhere, recognise that we may have a problem with boys and young men that we need to address."
