[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-80px|||||” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
The internet is often compared to the \u201cWild West\u201d. Like the American Wild West, the online world bears valuable resources and a wealth of opportunities – along with lawlessness and chaos.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n One subsection of the internet is a growing concern for parents of young boys\u2026 the manosphere.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n At the surface level, boys might be exposed to memes inspired by aspects of the manosphere like <\/span>sigma males, mewing, and looksmaxxing<\/span><\/a>, but they are always just a few clicks away from a much darker side. Online influencers within the depths of the manosphere have been accused of \u201c<\/span>radicalizing boys into extreme misogyny<\/span><\/a>\u201d which has led to an increase in violence against women and girls.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The manosphere is made up of websites, <\/span>subreddits<\/span><\/a>, social media profiles, and more that share the goal of promoting masculinity while spreading misogyny. Many of the ideologies promoted by manosphere communities overlap with those of the alt-right including the belief that feminism has destroyed Western society.<\/span><\/p>\n The manosphere is made up of 4 main communities:<\/span><\/p>\n A male who self-identifies as \u201cinvoluntary celibate\u201d is unable to find a partner despite feeling entitled to a sexual relationship. An incel\u2019s underlying belief is that women (incels are predominantly heterosexual) hold too much power in the sexual\/romantic sphere and that\u2019s why they are doomed to a life of loneliness. Inceldom is rooted in self-pity, resentment, misogyny, sexual objectification, racism, and sometimes violence.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Discussions in incel communities on Reddit, Facebook, and 4chan often endorse violence and harassment toward women and sexually successful men, as well as self-inflicted harm and <\/span>suicide<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Wikipedia lists<\/b> 17 incel-related fatal shootings<\/b><\/a> and attacks from across the globe<\/b>, with the <\/span>Isla Vista killings<\/span><\/a> being responsible for bringing the incel community into the mainstream in 2014. The perpetrator, Elliot Rodger, and his actions are glorified by the incel community along with others who\u2019ve taken equally extreme and wicked measures.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n At the surface level, members of the MGTOW community advocate avoiding serious relationships, marriage, and even casual dating, to protect their independence and focus on their goals and interests.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It doesn\u2019t sound like such a bad thing, right?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When you spend a little time exploring the MGTOW community, you\u2019ll soon see the familiar themes of anti-feminism and misogyny that are rife within the manosphere.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In 2017, r\/MGTOW became the largest and most active manosphere forum on Reddit, before being <\/span>banned in 2021<\/span><\/a> for breaking the site’s policies against the promotion of violence and hate, with online harassment of women being consistently encouraged.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Members of the MRM advocate for the rights and fair treatment of men, particularly in areas where they believe men are given the short end of the stick. These areas include child custody and alimony, divorce settlements, domestic abuse, punishment for crimes, and mental health care.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Although part of the community seeks to address some legitimate issues, other members use MRM as a platform to express anti-feminist and misogynistic views.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Men in the pickup, or seduction, community, share the goal of getting women into bed with the help of tried-and-tested strategies. <\/span>The community was born from how-to guides going back to the 60s, but has prospered in the internet age<\/b> with countless blogs, subreddits, forums, and newsletters dedicated to \u201cgame\u201d or “seduction science”.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The PUA industry is big business too with self-identified \u201cgurus\u201d charging thousands of dollars for seminars, courses, and boot camps.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Because PUAs place so much value in attaining sexual success with women, they\u2019re often disliked and derided by incels and MGTOW. But, like their manosphere neighbors, the PUA community has been accused of sexism, sexual objectification, and misogyny.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.qustodio.com\/public-site\/uploads\/2024\/10\/29090823\/2024-10-Blog-What-is-the-manosphere_InsideImage.png” alt=”teenage boy looking pensive” title_text=”2024-10-%91Blog%93-What-is-the-manosphere_InsideImage” align=”center” disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Image” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n MGTOW, incels, and other members of the manosphere often label themselves as \u201cred pillers\u201d. The concept of red pill and its opposite, blue pill, is taken from the 2000 movie The Matrix. Someone who chooses the red pill has accepted reality as it is, no matter how harsh or unfair it seems to them. On the other hand, a blue piller chooses to remain ignorant and blissfully unaware of the difficult and \u201ctrue\u201d nature of existence.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Although it varies depending on the community, <\/span>red pill in the manosphere usually involves the acceptance of the idea that feminism has made society biased against men. <\/b>Red pillers congregate in places like the subreddit r\/TheRedPill to talk about rejecting modern gender roles and sharing their toxic views on women.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When incels raid the medicine cabinet, they often choose the <\/span>black pill <\/b>– an acceptance that there\u2019s nothing a low-status or unattractive man can do to improve their chances of getting a girlfriend or sexual partner. <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Aside from the ideology, <\/span>one of the most concerning parts of the manosphere is how quickly it\u2019s seeped into algorithms<\/b>. Podcasts and videos featuring prominent figures in the space are spliced up, edited, and packaged in a social-ready format.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Hundreds of clips, easily produced by just one creator or reposter, can flood feeds and increase the likelihood they\u2019ll find their way in front of young men and boys. Some videos are designed to stop the scroll, with \u201cragebait\u201d hooks and \u201chot takes\u201d – as many influencers in the manosphere know that <\/span>controversy on social media means more eyes on you, through comments, shares, and engagement<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n And pipelines can take swift turns. Young men engaging with fitness tips or clips of fast cars can find themselves just a few scrolls away from manosphere content, because of the big overlap in interests and the notion of male \u201cideals\u201d the manosphere promotes.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Although the manosphere\u2019s toxic teachings aren\u2019t limited to the internet, <\/span>it\u2019s in online communities where the most problematic ideology is shared and celebrated<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The manosphere is a classic internet \u201ciceberg\u201d where you can start with relatively harmless trends, such as sigma and looksmaxxing content, and soon find yourself in the depths of toxicity where the most controversial and dangerous views are shared. And thanks to the way social media algorithms are developed, this can happen easily and very quickly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you\u2019re a concerned parent of a boy, here are a few ways you can protect them from the more harmful aspects of the manosphere.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n 1. Have open conversations<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n As boys transform into men, it\u2019s natural for them to be curious about manhood and their place in the world. Parents should foster an environment where sons can feel comfortable talking about their thoughts and feelings, as well as what they encounter online.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s a good idea to bring up the topics of gender roles, relationships, and masculinity too. It might feel awkward to talk about such things with your child, but remember, toxic internet communities are only too ready to fill the role.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n 2. Encourage them to question everything\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n One of the biggest issues facing internet users today -children and adults – is how to separate fact from <\/span>false narratives<\/span><\/a> which distort reality and sometimes promote harmful ideas.<\/span><\/p>\n Much of the content in the manosphere is biased and exists to push the creator\u2019s ideology, so encourage your son to question the sources of content and the intentions behind it.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n 3. Promote positive role models<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n Role models are important in a boy\u2019s development, but unfortunately, the manosphere is not the place to find healthy, postive examples. Influencers and spokesmen in the space often rely on shock and radical opinions to spread their ideology while clocking up the views and likes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWhat is the manosphere?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Incels<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Men going their own way (MGTOW)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Men’s rights movement (MRM)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Pickup artists (PUAs)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
What\u2019s the red pill?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The manosphere on social media<\/strong><\/h2>\n
What can parents of boys do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n