Online misogyny: Experts call for mental health support and platform accountability

Experts are urging governments to address online misogyny and the growing influence of the so-called manosphere as public health concerns warning that their impact extends beyond social media and can contribute to wider social and health-related problems.

Experts are urging governments to address online misogyny and the growing influence of the so-called manosphere as public health concerns warning that their impact extends beyond social media and can contribute to wider social and health-related problems.

A new viewpoint published in The Lancet argues that online communities promoting anti-feminist beliefs, male victimhood and hostility towards women can contribute to mental health challenges among young people violence against women and girls and reluctance among boys and men to seek professional support.

The researchers describe the manosphere as a network of online communities built around ideas about masculinity, misogyny and perceived disadvantages faced by men. These spaces include incel groups, men’s rights activists, pick-up artists and influencers promoting particular versions of masculinity.

Although these communities have different backgrounds and beliefs the report says many share narratives that blame feminism for men’s problems.

The authors also highlight the commercial interests behind this online environment. Influencers and platforms can earn money through advertisements, paid subscriptions, online courses and products targeting young men’s concerns about appearance, relationships and financial success. Controversial content can attract attention and generate revenue.

Professor Sarah Hawkes one of the report’s authors told Sky News that restricting access to social media alone would not necessarily make online spaces safer or address the wider consequences of misogyny.

She argued that treating the issue as a public health problem would give governments more options including education, healthcare support and measures addressing the social conditions that make such communities attractive.

Hawkes compared the wider effects of the manosphere to tobacco consumption explaining that although men and boys are its main target audience, women and girls also experience its consequences through misogyny, gender inequality and violence.

The report identifies loneliness, social isolation, financial insecurity and disengagement from education as factors that may make some young men more likely to join online communities offering a sense of belonging.

However, the researchers acknowledge that evidence establishing direct causal links between exposure to manosphere content and particular health outcomes remains limited.

To address the problem they recommend improving access to mental health services for boys and young men strengthening school-based education promoting healthier ideas of masculinity and holding social media platforms accountable for content amplified by their algorithms.

They also call for more research to monitor evolving online communities and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.

The authors stress that governments, schools, healthcare providers and community organisations should coordinate their efforts. They argue that young men need positive alternatives to harmful online spaces while broader misogynistic attitudes and the commercial systems supporting such content must also be addressed.