Social media algorithms are significantly amplifying anti-women content, a phenomenon described as "ramped up on steroids," according to Sarah Benson, head of Women's Aid. This trend is increasingly targeting younger generations, potentially exposing boys and young men to "devastating consequences" through toxic messages about women and masculinity.
Benson highlighted the "manosphere," an online ecosystem where influencers promote male superiority and a rigid definition of masculinity, as a significant driver of these harmful messages. Figures such as Andrew Tate, Harrison Sullivan, and Jordan Peterson have gained influence by embedding misogynistic ideas within content ostensibly about fitness, finance, and dating. "A lot of that messaging has got a really convenient vehicle through algorithms," Benson stated, noting that such content can appear normal through repeated exposure.
This exposure can negatively impact young men's mental health, exacerbating loneliness and alienation by portraying vulnerability and emotional openness as weaknesses. The perceived value of men can become tied to financial success or physical strength, while rigid ideas about masculinity can foster contempt towards women and other men who do not conform.
A Dublin City University study examining experimental TikTok and YouTube Shorts accounts revealed the rapid introduction of toxic content. Within minutes of initial viewing, accounts were recommended manosphere material. After approximately two to three hours of viewing, a significant majority of recommended content on both platforms was classified as toxic, much of it featuring anti-feminist or "alpha male" themes.
The study found that even accounts initially engaging with neutral content like sports or gaming were eventually directed towards manosphere material. Benson emphasized that misogyny online is not an isolated issue but is connected to controlling and abusive behaviors in offline relationships.
"The violence against women is not a women's issue, it’s a men’s issue," Benson asserted. She pointed to statistics from Women's Aid, which show that a significant majority of women who are murdered are killed by someone they know, often a current or former intimate partner. In contrast, men are more likely to be victims of homicide by acquaintances or strangers in public spaces.
Globally, while men remain more likely to be victims of homicide overall, the rate of decline in female homicides has been slower than for men. UN figures indicate that approximately 60 percent of women and girls intentionally killed worldwide in 2024 were murdered by an intimate partner or family member, with a woman or girl killed by someone close to her nearly every ten minutes.
Benson advocates for earlier conversations about equality and healthy relationships with boys to address the issue before misogynistic attitudes become deeply ingrained. These discussions should encompass healthy mutual relationships in friendships, workplaces, and intimate connections.