From misogynistic online content to real life harm: Manosphere, digital abuse, and how can we talk to boys and men?

 

“There is massive reinforcement between the explosion of AI technology and the toxic extreme misogyny of the manosphere”, says Laura Bates. “AI tools allow the spread of manosphere content further, using algorithmic tweaking that prioritizes increasingly extreme content to maximize engagement.” 

The manosphere is a growing corner of the digital world and comprised of a loose network of online communities that claim to address men’s struggles – dating, fitness, or fatherhood, for example – but often promote harmful advice and misogynistic attitudes. This content is gaining traction – two-thirds of young men regularly engage with masculinity influencers online, and the content on manosphere not only normalizes violence against women and girls, but has growing links to radicalization and extremist ideologies. Learn more about the Manosphere and what you can do. 

Aided by the ease of AI tools, online users can now generate and spread propaganda materials, including false information and statistics, to recruit and groom vulnerable young men into misogynistic and extremist ideologies.

It's vital to start conversations earlier, say experts, because prevention is much more effective than deradicalization. And a big part of prevention is providing young people with digital literacy and teaching them source skepticism – who is saying what, and why, and how to verify the credibility of information.

Some tips for talking to men and boys who are consuming misogynistic and abusive content online:

• Use a calm, supportive, non-judgmental framework. 
• Look at potential fears or concerns that may have been stoked by the content. 
• Work together to find unbiased information to address those fears. 
• Talk about the many significant ways that men and boys are negatively impacted by patriarchy and gender stereotypes. 
• Question whether the online personalities who claim to be championing for men and boys are supporting them or contributing to harms. 
• Discuss who profits from the content and how. 

There's a vital role for male role models to do this work – conversations with a father, uncle, brother, male teacher, sports coach, or youth worker may be more effective in helping boys reexamine this content.