YouTuber Zoe Sugg, better known as Zoella, has been dropped from the AQA GCSE syllabus after sharing content ‘aimed at an adult audience’.
Sugg, 30, has been on the AQA Media Studies GCSE syllabus since 2017 but has now been removed with the exam board explaining that some of her content is no longer ‘appropriate’ for GCSE students after her site featured an article reviewing vibrators.
Sandra Allan, AQA’s head of curriculum for creative arts, said: “GCSE Media Studies includes the analysis of online and social media and we added Zoella in 2017.
“At the time, all her content was appropriate for teaching, but some of Zoella’s recent content is aimed specifically at an adult audience and isn’t suitable for GCSE students.
“As a result, we’ve removed the section on Zoella from the course, and we’ve contacted our schools and colleges to let them know.”
Speaking to Business Insider, Allan said that students who have already been studying using the AQA Close Study Products booklet, which contains reference to Zoella, will not be penalised if they mention her during the exams next year.