Four young men describe how manosphere content reached them through social media algorithms, often starting with gym videos. Several say the messages moved from self-improvement into misogyny and pressure over money, status and appearance. One Melbourne man says he posted a controversial video that went viral, and later was hospitalised and diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Others describe leaving social media or steering younger relatives away from these influencers.
New research surveyed 142 young men aged 16 to 25 across Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States about masculinity content on social media. Participants said such material can offer practical self-help, from discipline and fitness to financial and dating advice, though many found it superficial and harmful. Several criticised manfluencers, including Andrew Tate, for exploiting insecurities and promoting misogyny, violence and risky health behaviour. Participants said they engaged selectively, taking useful lessons while rejecting harmful messages, yet many still tolerated misogyny in exchange for the advice they valued.
Broadcaster Marc Fennell says parents cannot be expected to control what boys see online. His ABC documentary, The State of Man, examines the manosphere and why its messages appeal to young men. Fennell points to the pandemic, shifting cultural debates and online platforms as factors. He says there is no single cause or fix. The series ends by looking at solutions, and Fennell says teenagers gave him reason for hope.
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Journalist Marc Fennell, whose new ABC documentary series State of Man examines the manosphere, says parents should respond to online radicalisation with trust rather than secret monitoring. In his experiment, a fictional young man's social media feed moved within three weeks from fitness content to hatred and extremism. Fennell recommends reviewing online activity together, bringing in male mentors such as coaches and youth leaders, and prioritising everyday presence over formal talks. He says a simple rule applies: don't be a dickhead.
Experts say online manosphere communities promote narrow ideas of masculinity that oppose feminism and gender equality. Psychologist Zac Seidler says young men are often drawn in by loneliness, a lack of purpose and worries about the future. Developmental paediatrician Billy Garvey advises starting with curiosity, because lecturing young people can push them away. Warning signs include new language, relying on a few influencers and rising grievance against women.
Experts say the manosphere is not a passing wave, with clinical psychologist Zac Seidler saying online misogyny is being fuelled by tech platforms. Developmental paediatrician Billy Garvey advises parents to start conversations with children in low-pressure settings where they feel safe. Our Watch's Genevieve Sheppard says the manosphere harms boys and men by insisting there is only one way to be a man. The experts also answered questions on neurodivergent boys and how to respond to manosphere views in public.
Teenage boys say social media algorithms keep showing them misogynistic content, even when they never search for it. Eighteen-year-old Zac Roebig said such videos appear on his feed and are pushed by the platform's recommendation system. Researchers at QUT and the QIMR Berghofer Institute say the feeds can quickly lead users towards anti-feminist content. A Melbourne University study found boys aged 13 to 17 were the most likely group to hold hostile attitudes towards women. Experts say the home environment also plays a critical role, and the federal government has proposed letting users opt out of algorithms.
A growing online movement called looksmaxxing is encouraging young men to change their appearance through diet, grooming, cosmetic procedures and, in extreme cases, dangerous practices. A 2025 Movember Institute report found 63 per cent of Australian men aged 16 to 25 engage with masculinity influencers. Researchers say the trend can lead some young men towards extreme interventions and misogynistic communities. Psychologist Scott Griffiths warns that irreversible changes, such as steroid use, mark dangerous territory. Some looksmaxxing influencers, including Androgenic, are reported to charge for coaching programs.
