The “manosphere” is a loosely connected but increasingly influential collection of online communities, websites, influencers, and personalities that claim to focus on men’s issues. For many teen boys, these spaces initially present themselves as self-help platforms promising personal growth, fitness, financial independence, and confidence. However, beneath the surface lies a disturbing undercurrent of misogyny, grievance, and entitlement that is spilling into real-world environments of today’s youth and teens.
What Is the Manosphere?
The manosphere is not a single movement but a convergence of several loosely overlapping communities that promote varying degrees of male supremacy and resentment toward women. Though these groups differ in focus, they share one key belief, that being feminism has gone too far, and men are now the ones losing power, respect, and opportunity.
Some of the most prominent groups within the manosphere include:
- Pick-Up Artists (PUAs): These influencers teach men how to manipulate women into sex using coercion, negging (backhanded compliments), and pressuring against consent. Figures like Andrew Tate have profited immensely from this ideology, building empires of online courses and social media content that frame women as objects to be conquered. Even when banned from mainstream platforms, their content remains widely circulated, with hundreds of millions of views.
- Involuntary Celibates (Incels): Incels claim they are unable to form romantic or sexual relationships and blame women for their perceived rejection. This ideology, steeped in entitlement and misogyny, has led to real-world violence. Notable examples include Elliot Rodger (2014) and Alek Minassian (2018), whose attacks were driven by incel beliefs. Research from major incel forums has revealed disturbing content, with rape discussed every 29 minutes and widespread support for such acts.
- Men’s Rights Activists (MRAs): While some MRAs raise legitimate concerns about issues like father’s rights or male mental health, these concerns are often co-opted as fronts for anti-feminist agendas. Many MRAs actively oppose gender equality laws and paint women as oppressors rather than equals.
- Men Going Their Own Way (MGTOW): This group encourages men to avoid relationships with women entirely, framing them as threats to male freedom. Some adherents advocate total withdrawal from society as a way to protect themselves from perceived feminist control.
These ideologies are being algorithmically recommended to youth and teens across platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, even when they’re not explicitly searching for them. Once a teen begins engaging with this type of content, platform algorithms often funnel them deeper into these toxic echo chambers.
Teen boys who feel isolated, misunderstood, or insecure can find a deceptive sense of belonging in the manosphere. These online spaces provide affirmation and community, assuring them that their frustrations are valid and that they are “enlightened” for recognizing the so-called truth. This appeal is particularly strong in adolescent years, when identity formation, social rejection, and questions about masculinity are front of mind.
What might begin as an innocent search for confidence-building advice can quickly lead to content that blames women, feminists, and LGBTQ+ communities for personal struggles. The leap from self-help to resentment is subtle but deliberate, and often highly persuasive.
For example, a student might start by watching videos on improving fitness or career success, only to be served content suggesting that women are inherently manipulative or that society is rigged against men. These narratives reframe struggles not as challenges to overcome but as injustices to avenge.
This ideological shift doesn’t stay online. Teachers, administrators, and female students have all reported a noticeable increase in manosphere-inspired behaviour in classrooms. Students are using misogynistic language, parroting anti-feminist talking points, and creating uncomfortable or even hostile learning environments. Female students have shared experiences of being objectified and dismissed, treated not as peers but as sexual objects or ideological enemies.
In one troubling example, a student who posted a manosphere meme and was challenged by a teacher felt attacked and turned back to online communities, where he was praised for “standing up” against feminist propaganda. This pattern is common, public confrontation often pushes students further into manosphere spaces, reinforcing their belief that they are misunderstood heroes in a cultural war.
Teachers report hearing students mock gender equity lessons with phrases like “Your body, my choice,” or dismiss sexual consent education as “woke garbage.” These attitudes disrupt classroom safety and undermine critical education efforts around respect, inclusion, and equity.
What makes the manosphere even more dangerous is how lucrative it has become. Influencers have monetized misogyny through online courses, supplements, crypto scams, and lifestyle coaching, all under the guise of “helping men succeed.” The polished presentation of this content hides deeply harmful messages that teach young men to see women as adversaries or accessories to their success.
For example, a teen lacking confidence might buy a course promising to “unlock your alpha potential.” Instead, they receive a curriculum steeped in gender resentment, promoting dominance and control over women as measures of success. These products are designed to be addictive and persuasive, keeping young people financially and ideologically invested.
Addressing the manosphere’s influence isn’t about shaming young men, it’s about understanding what drives them toward these ideologies and offering better alternatives. Here are six ideas:
Encourage Open, Non-Judgmental Conversations
Creating a safe space for open dialogue is essential when addressing the influence of online spaces like the manosphere. Students, especially boys, need to feel that they can express their thoughts and ask questions without fear of being shamed or ridiculed. When a young person voices a controversial or problematic viewpoint, educators should respond with curiosity rather than confrontation. Asking questions like, “Where did you hear that?” or “What do you think that really means?” can open up meaningful conversations rather than shutting them down. These discussions provide an opportunity for critical reflection and growth. It’s also important to validate the underlying emotions a student might be feeling, such as confusion, anger, or isolation, even if the ideology they’re drawn to is harmful. Respectful dialogue can help students examine their beliefs and begin to reshape them in healthier, more constructive ways.
Teach Critical Media Literacy
In today’s onlife world, students are constantly consuming content that is curated and amplified by algorithms designed to hold their attention. Teaching critical media literacy means going beyond basic digital skills, it involves equipping young people with the ability to recognize bias, manipulation, and emotional exploitation in the content they consume. Students should be taught to question not only what a piece of content is saying, but also why it’s being shown to them in the first place. Understanding how algorithms work can help students resist falling into echo chambers that reinforce unhealthy worldviews. By analyzing real examples of online content and breaking down the techniques used to influence viewers, educators can empower students to take back control over their digital environment and make more informed, conscious choices online.
Redefine Masculinity
Traditional notions of masculinity that emphasize dominance, stoicism, and emotional suppression can be damaging to boys and men. Redefining masculinity in educational spaces involves promoting healthier, more inclusive models that value empathy, cooperation, and emotional honesty. Boys need to see that being strong doesn’t mean being aggressive, and that vulnerability is not a weakness but a strength. This redefinition can be supported by introducing diverse male role models, both historical and contemporary, who embody these values. Encouraging boys to express their emotions and supporting them in developing meaningful relationships based on respect and equality is crucial. In doing so, we help dismantle the false idea that masculinity is a fixed identity rooted in power or control, and instead present it as a broad, evolving spectrum of human experience.
4. Involve Parents
Parents and caregivers play a critical role in shaping a child’s worldview, but many remain unaware of the manosphere and the ways its rhetoric can influence their children. Schools can bridge this gap by providing parents with the knowledge and tools they need to engage in informed, constructive conversations at home. Hosting workshops, distributing educational materials, and creating accessible guides can demystify online communities and help parents recognize early warning signs of radicalization or toxic thinking. These initiatives should aim to support parents, not blame them. Just as youth are learning to navigate complex online environments, so too are parents. By fostering a collaborative approach that values ongoing learning, schools can empower caregivers to play a proactive role in their child’s digital development.
Support Mental Health and Belonging
A key factor that draws young people, especially teen boys, into toxic online communities is a lack of connection, confidence, or sense of belonging. When boys feel isolated or misunderstood, they may seek validation and identity in places that ultimately reinforce harmful beliefs. To counter this, schools must prioritize inclusive programming that fosters connection and community. Whether through mentorship programs, extracurricular activities, or peer-led initiatives, creating spaces where boys feel seen, supported, and safe can have a powerful protective effect. Mental health services also need to be visible, accessible, and tailored to the unique pressures boys face, including performance anxiety, emotional repression, and identity struggles. Helping boys build a sense of purpose and belonging offline reduces the likelihood that they’ll turn to harmful ideologies online.
Train Educators
Many educators are encountering manosphere-influenced rhetoric in classrooms but don’t yet have the tools to address it effectively. Professional development should move beyond surface-level awareness and provide teachers with concrete strategies for responding to problematic language or attitudes without escalating the situation. Rather than relying on traditional disciplinary approaches, which can inadvertently push students further toward toxic online communities, schools should support restorative practices that emphasize listening, reflection, and growth. Educators are often the first to notice subtle shifts in a student’s behaviour or language, and with the right training, they can intervene early and constructively. It’s equally important that all school staff, not just teachers, are equipped to recognize and respond to these issues. A coordinated, well-informed approach ensures that students receive consistent messages and support throughout their school experience.
The rise of the manosphere is not just an educational issue—it’s a societal one. Policymakers and tech platforms have a role to play in curbing the reach of harmful ideologies. Stronger regulation, algorithm transparency, and content moderation are critical to preventing young people from being radicalized by misogynistic echo chambers.
Ultimately, addressing the manosphere is about more than just fighting toxic ideas. It’s about understanding the unmet needs that make these spaces appealing in the first place—and creating healthier paths to fulfillment, identity, and belonging.
The growing reach of the manosphere among teen boys is not a fringe issue, it’s a critical and urgent challenge that demands attention from educators, parents, mental health professionals, and policymakers alike. What may initially appear as harmless self-improvement content often conceals a deeply misogynistic ideology that reframes personal struggles into narratives of victimhood and resentment. As boys seek connection, identity, and guidance during their most formative years, the manosphere fills a void that schools, families, and communities must learn to occupy in healthier, more constructive ways.
At the heart of this issue is a search for belonging. The manosphere doesn’t just offer advice, it offers an identity. It gives youth and teen boys a script for understanding the world and their place in it, even if that script is riddled with blame, entitlement, and disinformation. That’s why countering its influence cannot simply rely on banning content or punishing behaviour. Real solutions require understanding why these ideas resonate and building alternatives that are equally compelling, accessible, and affirming.
To move forward, we must foster spaces, both online and offline, where boys are encouraged to express vulnerability, explore their identities, and find strength in empathy rather than dominance. We must provide the critical thinking tools necessary to question what they consume, and we must engage them in open dialogue that prioritizes listening over lecturing. Schools must be equipped with training, resources, and programs that focus on redefining masculinity in inclusive and empowering ways. And just as importantly, parents must be brought into the conversation, supported with the language and context to talk meaningfully with their children about the realities of digital life.
The manosphere’s success is built on unmet needs, unresolved emotions, and unanswered questions. Our collective response must rise to that challenge, not through fear or censorship, but through education, connection, and compassion. Only then can we create a future where young men no longer feel the need to look to the darkest corners of the internet for identity and belonging, because they’ve already found it in the communities that care for them most.
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