Key facts
- Manosphere and online misogyny should be treated as public health issues, experts said.
- The manosphere is described as a commercial ecosystem promoting beliefs about masculinity, misogyny, and male victimisation.
- The manosphere profits by promoting extreme misogyny and aggrieved masculinity.
- Experts compared the needed response to public health efforts against tobacco and ultra-processed food.
- The report cited growing disengagement from education, loneliness, and money worries among young men as vulnerabilities.
UK experts are urging the government to classify the manosphere and online misogyny as public health concerns, drawing parallels with issues like obesity and smoking. In a report published in The Lancet, the authors advocate for a unified approach involving governmental bodies, educational institutions, healthcare services, and community groups. They define the manosphere as a diverse online ecosystem centered on shared beliefs about masculinity, misogyny, and male victimhood, which has evolved into a profitable industry.