This Is How The Manosphere Draws Boys In – And What Parents Are Doing About It

Before this year, you might not have heard of the term ‘manosphere’ – which describes a network of online communities dedicated to men’s issues.But after the success of Netflix’s Adolescence, which catapulted the term into homes around the world (not for the most positive reasons), there’s no escaping it. For parents, it’s now impossible to pretend like it doesn’t exist. In fact, experts say we should proactively have conversations with our kids about it – especially as some of these communities amplify extreme misogynistic views.Is the manosphere problematic?Not necessarily. The manosphere is “a collection of websites, social media accounts and forums dedicated to men’s issues, from health and fitness to dating and men’s rights”, according to Robert Lawson, associate professor in sociolinguistics at Birmingham City University. Yet it’s increasingly become associated with anti-women and anti-feminist sentiments.A new report from Ofcom suggests the manosphere is “a fragmented array of online subcultures, often with conflicting perspectives” rather than one unified community, network or ideology.But while some groups focus on self-improvement or men’s mental health, others might share misogynistic views – and this is where things become problematic. Lawson explained in a piece for The Conversation that the language of the manosphere “creates a culture of exclusion, denigration (mainly of women, but also of other men), male power and entitlement”.We’re now at a point where most primary and secondary school teachers are “extremely concerned” about the influence of online misogyny on children and young people.On top of that, female teachers have said misogynistic comments are commonplace in schools, even from primary school-age boys.How do people end up getting sucked in?Ofcom delved deeper to determine what it is about the community’s content that appeals to men and boys. Almost all the men it spoke to liked the perceived humour, irreverence, open debate and discussion involved in manosphere content. The regulator said many connected with views on traditional gender roles and family dynamics, too.Taking the ‘red pill’ – the process of ‘awakening’ to the ‘realisation’ that the dating scene between men and women is unfair, particularly for men deemed less attractive – was another common theme among the men in the study, often triggered by personal circumstances, such as break-ups.The feeling of belonging and being part of an exclusive group also appeals.Ofcom’s study said certain manosphere communities set barriers to entry, adopt specific language and in-jokes – and people who deviate from group norms are excluded or ostracised.“When participants became invested in these more insular communities, they seemed much less prone to challenging the behaviour or views of others,” added the report.What are parents doing about it?While kids engaging with and following manosphere content isn’t necessarily anything to be worried about, it’s important for parents to be aware of what exactly their kids are consuming – and be curious about it. One mum shared how she spotted the signs her young son was being “red pilled” online and took action by engaging in debate with him and encouraging him to think critically about the content he consumed online.In a recent TikTok video, creator Jasmine Chelbi asked parents what they were doing to stop their kids from “falling victim to far-right pipelines”.One parent of a three-year-old said they were already laying the groundwork.“I take this very seriously,” they said, adding their strategy is (and will continue to be): “Building emotional resilience, teaching and demonstrating empathy, monitoring online activity without micromanaging, build[ing] his confidence and keeping open communication about it.”Another parent said they let their child watch diverse shows and content, and then discuss it with them.One parent of a five-year-old boy said they started teaching emotional regulation and empathy from an early age, as well as “the ‘why’ behind things”.They added they’re implementing screen time limits, too – a popular theme among parents. Ofcom data suggests a third of five- to seven-year-olds use social media unsupervised and kids aged eight to 17 spend anywhere between two and five hours a day online. One parent said they are “always” in their child’s business. “The key is to be active and present,” they said. “We watch TV together, play games together, share podcasts, etc. His algorithm can’t get too messed up if I feed it too!”But some suggested it can’t just be down to parents to try and solve the problem. One commenter said: “People act like parents can just ‘fix’ this, but most are drowning, two jobs, multiple kids, no time. The real issue is a society that leaves families on their own while the internet preys on lonely kids.“You want change? Don’t blame exhausted parents, fix the system that sets them up to fail.”Ofcom, which enforces the Online Safety Act – a new set of laws to protect children and adults online – has warned sites and apps must protect children from harmful material, including misogynistic content.It explicitly highlights online misogyny as one of four proposed priority areas for action, alongside online domestic abuse, image-based abuse and online abuse and harassment.Related...'I Don't Need To Listen To You': Female Teachers Are Witnessing A Rise In Classroom MisogynyYou Need To Talk To Your Kids About Misogyny – A Therapist Explains HowFrom Trad Wives To The Manosphere: Why Radicalisation Feels Easier Than Ever

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This Is How The Manosphere Draws Boys In – And What Parents Are Doing About It

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