Online misogyny and the manosphere should be treated as public health concerns, according to experts writing in The Lancet. The report argues that governments, schools, health services and community organisations need a coordinated response that addresses the conditions drawing boys and young men towards harmful online communities.
Why this is breaking news
The report describes the manosphere as a broad, commercially driven network of online communities connected by beliefs about masculinity, misogyny and male victimisation. Its authors say the phenomenon is no longer a fringe issue because digital platforms can turn anger, grievance and insecurity into profitable content.
They compare the proposed response with public-health campaigns addressing harms linked to tobacco use and ultra-processed food. The central argument is that removing individual accounts or communities will not be enough if the social and economic pressures behind their appeal remain unaddressed.
What the report says about the manosphere
The report presents the manosphere as an online ecosystem rather than a single organisation. It includes influencers, discussion forums, video channels and commercial services that promote particular ideas about male identity and social relationships.
According to the authors, some parts of this ecosystem frame men’s difficulties as the result of feminism, while overlooking wider issues such as loneliness, educational disengagement, financial insecurity and social exclusion. Products, subscriptions and paid content can then reinforce what the report calls health-harming and performance-focused versions of masculinity.
Why young men may be vulnerable
The experts say many boys and young men are looking for answers to genuine problems. Online communities can provide friendship, identity and an explanation for why life feels difficult. The concern is that these needs may be met through narratives that direct anger towards women and feminist movements.
That distinction is important. The report does not describe all men or boys as a problem. Instead, it links vulnerability to the circumstances in which people are searching for belonging and certainty.
- Loneliness and a lack of meaningful social connection
- Money worries and uncertainty about the future
- Disengagement from education
- Social exclusion and limited community support
- Algorithmically amplified content built around outrage and grievance
Experts call for more than content removal
Prof Kent Buse, one of the report’s authors, said the manosphere should be understood as a business model as well as a cultural phenomenon. He argued that commercial systems reward increasingly extreme material because controversy attracts attention and generates revenue.
Prof Sarah Hawkes, the report’s other author, said a response based only on taking content down would be inadequate. Her argument is that boys and young men need credible alternatives that provide belonging, purpose and support without directing frustration towards women.
This could involve cooperation between schools, youth services, mental-health providers, online platforms, policymakers and local organisations. The report’s public-health approach focuses on prevention, early support and reducing the conditions that allow harmful messages to gain influence.
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Why the issue matters in Ireland
The report was produced by UK experts, but its themes are relevant to discussions about Irish society, education, mental health and online safety. Ireland’s young people also use global social-media platforms, meaning online trends can cross borders quickly.
Any Irish response would need to distinguish between lawful debate, controversial opinions and content that promotes abuse, harassment or hatred. It would also need to consider how schools and families can support boys who are isolated or struggling, while ensuring that girls and women are protected from misogynistic abuse.
The findings may therefore become relevant to Irish politics, public-health policy and debates about platform responsibility. They also connect with wider concerns about youth mental health, digital literacy and the effects of recommendation algorithms.
What a public-health response could involve
The report points towards a broad strategy rather than a single piece of legislation. Possible areas of action include:
- Better education: Schools could provide age-appropriate teaching about relationships, consent, online manipulation and media literacy.
- Earlier support: Health and youth services could identify loneliness, exclusion and distress before harmful online communities become a primary source of support.
- Platform accountability: Technology companies could face stronger expectations around recommendation systems, commercial incentives and harmful harassment.
- Positive role models: Communities could offer constructive spaces where boys and young men develop friendships, skills and a sense of purpose.
- Research: More evidence is needed to identify which young people are most at risk and what interventions work best.
What happens next?
The report is likely to add momentum to an already growing debate about online misogyny, influencer culture and the responsibilities of governments and technology companies. However, it does not provide a single solution, and the evidence on which interventions are most effective is still developing.
Policy decisions will need to balance freedom of expression with protection from abuse and exploitation. The experts’ warning is that treating the issue solely as a matter of individual behaviour could miss the commercial and social systems that help harmful content spread.
Frequently asked questions
What is the manosphere?
The manosphere is a loose collection of online communities and commercial networks focused on ideas about masculinity, male victimisation and, in some cases, hostility towards women and feminism.
Why do experts describe it as a public-health issue?
They argue that its effects are connected to wider social conditions, including loneliness, insecurity and exclusion, and that prevention requires coordinated action from health, education, government and community services.
Does the report blame boys and men?
No. The authors explicitly distinguish between boys and men who may be vulnerable to harmful content and the companies or systems that profit from anger and insecurity.
Is removing harmful content enough?
The report says removal alone is unlikely to work if young people are not offered healthier sources of belonging, identity, support and purpose.
Conclusion
The debate around the manosphere is moving beyond social-media moderation and into public health, education and community policy. The report’s key message is that online misogyny cannot be addressed effectively by focusing only on individual users or isolated posts.
For Ireland and other countries, the challenge is to protect people from harmful content while creating credible, positive support for boys and young men. Any lasting response to the manosphere will need to confront both the commercial incentives behind extreme content and the real-life difficulties that make such communities attractive.