Commercial drivers of misogyny
The authors of a report in The Lancet argue the government should treat the manosphere and online misogyny as a public health issue, much like the regulation of tobacco use or ultra-processed food. The report defines the manosphere as a "diffuse commercial ecosystem" of online communities. This industry earns money by promoting "the most extreme expressions of misogyny and aggrieved masculinity", which Prof Kent Buse, a co-author and co-founder of the social justice thinktank Global 50/50, says is a business model rather than a fringe movement. "Outrage and grievance are good for business, so the system rewards the most extreme content," Buse says. He expects the industry to "blame the individual, and call regulation an attack on freedom" to mirror the playbook used by the tobacco industry. Buse argues that the problem is the conditions that leave boys and men isolated and without a secure future, rather than the characteristics of the boys and men themselves. He says companies profit from the anger and insecurity of young men and boys.
Social vulnerabilities and risks
Prof Sarah Hawkes, the report’s other author, says the manosphere provides boys and young men with "belonging, identity and an explanation for why life feels hard." Because these needs are real, Hawkes says a response that only removes the manosphere, without offering something credible in its place, will fail. Disengagement from education, loneliness, money worries, and social exclusion can make young men search for a sense of belonging. This makes them more vulnerable to online communities that offer simple explanations for their difficulties and encourage them to blame women and feminism. Mark Brooks, the policy and communications director at the Centre for Policy Research on Men and Boys, welcomes the report’s position that men, boys, women and girls are all victims of this content. Brooks says the manosphere discussion often positions all men and boys as a problem and does not take into account the broader economic, educational and cultural challenges that drive their engagement. The Centre for Policy Research on Men and Boys is currently conducting research to identify which specific individuals are most at risk of engaging with this content.
