- Study reveals nuanced, fragmented landscape with conflicting sub-cultures and ideologies
- Perceived humour, debate and self-improvement content draws men in
- Socially isolated individuals appear more at risk of adopting harmful views promoted by closed, insular online communities
With growing concern over the potential for online communities to promote misogyny, new research [1], commissioned by Ofcom, explores how men come to engage with the manosphere, the role it plays in their lives, and how it shapes their views and behaviour.
The manosphere, defined in the report as online spaces dedicated to men’s issues, [2] is an environment where misogynistic views may proliferate. Communities include ‘red pill’ and ‘black pill’ groups, incels, Men Going Their Own Way, Men’s Rights Activists, Pick Up Artists, ‘Looksmaxxers’, as well as other groups relating to self-improvement, masculinity and gender politics. Each has their own subculture and ideologies.
To better understand these online spaces, and the potential harms that may occur as a result to those engaging with content in such spaces, researchers interviewed 38 men and one woman who had engaged with these online communities to varying degrees - from passive exposure through to active engagement and content creation.
In summary, the report finds that:
The manosphere is a fragmented landscape
Far from a unified community, network or ideology, the report suggests that the manosphere is a fragmented array of online subcultures, often with conflicting perspectives.
Many participants feel the term ‘manosphere’ was misapplied, and widely misunderstood, given they consider it unhelpfully groups together a wide range of content - from what they see and described as benign self-improvement advice to extreme misogyny.
Perceived humour, open debate and personal life triggers draw men in
Almost all the men the researchers spoke to were attracted to manosphere content due to its perceived humour, irreverence, open debate and discussion. Many also connected with views on traditional gender roles and family dynamics.
Others considered there was a lack of positive conversations about masculinity in public discourse, which was why they particularly valued self-improvement, fitness, personal agency and motivational messaging in certain manosphere content.
‘Taking the red pill’ - the process of ‘awakening’ to the ‘realisation’ that the dating scene between men and women is inherently unfair, particularly for men deemed less attractive, was a common theme among the men in the study. This was often triggered by personal circumstances, such as relationship breakdown or legal disputes.
Risks of harm
Many participants described consuming manosphere content with an ‘entertainment’ mindset, in that they didn’t take the content seriously or at face value, and reported that it didn’t necessarily influence their personal views. A small number of participants recognised that certain content – for example sexualising or misogynistic lyrics in songs about women – could influence younger, more impressionable people.
The report also examines how certain manosphere communities set barriers to entry, adopt specific language and in-jokes, and instances where those who deviate from group norms are excluded or ostracised. When participants became invested in these more insular communities, they seemed much less prone to challenging the behaviour or views of others.
A minority of participants described encountering extremely misogynistic content online - with the most extreme examples more likely to be found on closed groups or among Incel communities. These spaces were also notably full of messages promoting ‘black pill’ concepts of self-loathing and hopelessness, as well as depressive and even suicidal outlooks.
Participants that were more socially isolated offline tended to have greater depth of engagement within these closed communities, and so may be at greater risk of adopting harmful views or mindsets, due to their strong group identity and the individual’s wider vulnerability.
People in the study engaged with a range of content that focused on physical appearance or fitness. Gym and fitness manosphere content was popular. Some participants mentioned that some content encourages extreme physical practices such as bone-smashing.
Tackling online misogyny
As the Online Safety regulator, we enforce the Online Safety Act. We’ve set out how - where content is illegal - platforms must take action to protect users from this material, including by taking it down once they become aware of it. Sites and apps must also protect children from harmful material, including some hateful and abuse misogynistic content.
Ofcom has recently consulted on guidance for tech firms to tackle online harms against women and girls. It explicitly highlights online misogyny as one of four proposed priority areas for action, alongside online domestic abuse, image-based abuse and online abuse and harassment, and recommends steps that platforms can take to tackle the spread of misogynistic content. Our consultation has now closed, and we are now considering responses before finalising our guidance.
Promoting media literacy
Ofcom has statutory duties to promote and research media literacy, including understanding how people navigate their online worlds and their interactions with potentially harmful content.
Our media literacy programme will build on the understanding of vulnerabilities and communities provided by this research with a series of expert roundtables. This evidence base will then inform our commissioning of initiatives later in the year, including supporting organisations working with men and boys.
Notes
1. Revealing Reality carried out this research for Ofcom. This is a qualitative report and as such can't indicate the prevalence of these views and behaviours. Rather, it provides a useful contribution to the debates, and provides useful insight into the spectrum of content and experiences in the manosphere.
2. The definition given in the report is “a loose agglomeration of blogs, websites and forums dedicated to men's issues". Existing literature suggests that misogynistic content may proliferate in such spaces.
Discourse centred around variations on the ‘red pill’ ideas. Drawing on the film The Matrix – ‘taking the red pill’ refers to the process of ‘awakening’ to the ‘reality’ of relations between men and women – for example differing priorities in dating or signals of attractiveness.
Under this paradigm, ‘taking the blue pill’ refers to opting to continue living in comfortable ignorance or denial of these ‘real-world’ dynamics.
Communities of men online who feel unable to find a romantic or sexual partner (‘involuntarily celibate’), sometimes leading to feelings of deep frustration and resentment of both women and men who have greater romantic success.
The "Black Pill" represents a nihilistic outlook, with adherents believing that their lack of success with women is due to unchangeable factors like physical appearance.
Communities of men online advocating for men to completely disengage from relationships with women and focus on their own self-interest.
MGTOW adherents believe that biases in modern society leave men vulnerable to exploitation in relationships with women.
An online movement and associated communities who advocate for men's rights in areas like family law, custody rights, and domestic abuse and violence, and believe that men are victims of prejudice and discrimination in society.
Online communities and content which focuses on teaching men techniques and strategies to improve their success in attracting and seducing women.
PUA culture often emphasises social skills, body language and psychological insights to achieve romantic and sexual success.
An online subculture of primarily men, dedicated to improving one's physical appearance through various methods, including exercise, diet, grooming, and cosmetic procedures.
A broad range of content encompassing discussions about various aspects of being a man in the modern world, often on topics like personal development, traditional gender roles, challenges faced by men, and the changing dynamics between men and women.