Sexual violence concepts launched online are spilling into the real world

Andrew Tate, a self-proclaimed misogynist with millions of followers, is facing charges in multiple countries for allegedly causing physical harm, including rape and sex trafficking. The manosphere, a loosely connected network of online forums and sites promoting male supremacy, has increasingly moved to mainstream platforms like YouTube and TikTok.

This messaging is causing harm to both women and men and boys drawn in by the ideologies. The growth of manosphere ideologies is attributed to backlash against the #MeToo movement and increased isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly half of U.S. women have experienced unwanted sexual contact, and 1 in 5 have experienced attempted rape or rape.

While some countries are taking steps to curb sexually violent content online, U.S. legislation is lagging. Social scientists studying the intersection of sexual violence and masculinities with digital technologies find the manosphere increasingly relevant. A violence prevention specialist struggles to engage men and boys and keep up with the changing landscape.

Manosphere communities use discussions of sexual violence to recruit and indoctrinate new members, united by the belief that feminism has gone too far and women's rights should be rolled back. The DARVO strategy is used to frame #MeToo and anti-sexual violence activism as a feminist conspiracy targeting men. False rape allegations are often claimed to be a feminist conspiracy, positioning women as the shared enemy for men to blame for loneliness, frustration, or anger.

Pickup artist and seduction communities teach that "no" rarely actually means "no", sharing detailed stories of sexual encounters to give advice or ask about overcoming last-minute resistance.