We may be able to turn off the algorithm, but we can’t escape the misogyny of the manosphere
Important as it is, no amount of social media regulation will meaningfully address the manosphere unless we also dismantle the misogyny that underpins it.
The federal government recently announced new laws to tackle harmful content on digital platforms, including an opt-out model that allows users to revert their feeds to a traditional timeline setting. This proposal, part of broader digital duty of care legislation, aims to hold tech companies accountable for protecting users from abusive and harmful content, particularly in light of the manosphere's growing influence.
While opting out of algorithms would undoubtedly help, it only partially addresses the appeal of the manosphere, which is rooted in misogyny.
Misogyny is a historical feature of many societies, deeply ingrained in institutions such as legal systems, medicine, and education. Its persistence despite efforts toward gender equality highlights the need to go beyond regulation and address the misogyny that underpins the manosphere. Many explanations for men and boys subscribing to misogynistic beliefs, such as poor mental health, loneliness, and unmet needs, are often unexamined.
These factors do not account for the historical and ongoing presence of misogyny among some boys and men, nor do they explain why they are more likely to hold misogynist beliefs and commit sexual violence than girls and women.
The manosphere promotes grievances related to the economy, job prospects, and other future concerns as justifications for misogyny. However, these grievances are not realities but rather tools used to justify harmful beliefs. It is crucial to examine why hate and violence against women and girls remain appealing choices and hold men and boys accountable when they engage with these views.
While regulation of harmful content is necessary, it is not sufficient to prevent violence against girls and women or provide them with the support needed for recovery and healing. Education, particularly in early childhood, plays a vital role in dismantling misogynistic ideas. High-quality, sustained education can shift attitudes and beliefs that underpin violence against women.
Respectful Relationships Education implemented across schools has proven to be the best prevention measure to date. However, this requires the government to adequately resource schools with time, training, and specialist support.
Regulation and education are complementary approaches that work together to reduce the amplification of manosphere content and help young people critically understand the content they consume. Only by combining these measures can we effectively tackle the misogyny that fuels the manosphere and address the root of the issue.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
