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How do young men get drawn into the Manosphere?
Step Together partnered with researchers from the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) and the University of California, Berkeley on the project ‘Diverting the Manosphere Pipeline: Designing Interventions to Youth Radicalisation.’
This research project explored how teenage boys and young men encounter, engage with and are influenced by manosphere* content online, and why some may become vulnerable to increasingly extreme narratives.
*manosphere refers to a range of online communities that discuss men, masculinity and relationships. Some of this content promotes restrictive ideas about what it means to be a real man, often linking male worth to wealth, physical appearance, social status and dominance in relationships.
About the research
The research was commissioned to strengthen the understanding of emerging youth radicalisation pathways and to identify opportunities for earlier intervention.
It found that many young people do not seek out extremist content directly. Instead, they may begin by watching content about fitness, self-improvement, motivation, dating or men's issues. Over time, some may be exposed to more polarising or harmful ideas through the online content they are recommended and consume.
The findings provide valuable insights for parents, carers, educators and community organisations looking to support young people in navigating online spaces safely and positively.
Why it matters
A key finding found that the ‘manosphere’ is more than a collection of online influencers. It acts as a community that offers advice, a sense of belonging, validation and simple explanations for personal challenges.
For some young males, particularly those who are who are feeling isolated, uncertain or struggling with their identity may be particularly drawn to these spaces.
The research also highlighted a gap between the online experiences of young people and what parents, carers and educators know about the content they are consuming. This can make it difficult to recognise concerning behavioural changes or when a young person may be engaging with harmful content.
What did we learn?
The research found that the way content is delivered online is often just as important as the message itself. Many teenage boys are more likely to engage with content created by people they see as authentic, relatable and successful than with content from organisations or institutions.
TikTok
On TikTok, young people are drawn to short, informal videos that provide practical advice about topics such as:
- Fitness and wellbeing
- Productivity
- Work and money
- Relationships.
Often the appeal comes from the connection viewers feel with the creator, not just the information being shared.
YouTube
On YouTube, audiences engage with longer videos and discussions.
These often focus on topics such as:
- Social issues
- Masculinity
- Modern culture.
What this means for community engagement
The findings suggest that traditional awareness campaigns may not always connect with young audiences if they rely on formal language, institutional branding or highly structured educational approaches.
Young males respond better to practical, everyday content delivered by people they trust and relate to.
Messages about respectful relationships, positive masculinity, mental wellbeing and resilience are more likely to be effective when they are shared in formats and environments that young people already use and enjoy.
Understanding what messages are communicated, who delivers a message, where it appears and how it is presented is essential.
How to support parents, carers and educators
Parents, carers and educators play an important role in helping young people navigate online spaces.
A key finding was parents, educators and adults broadly demonstrate awareness of this content's online presence. However, two distinct attitude groups emerged among parents: those who feel overwhelmed and unequipped to intervene with their children, and those who are unwilling to act because they hold conservative attitudes toward gender and race.
The research found that parents, carers and educators respond best to information that is practical, supportive and free from judgment, rather than creating fear or blame.
Effective communication should:
- Respect parental authority
- Build confidence in recognising warning signs
- Offer practical pathways to support.
The research also identified a need to improve awareness of available services and intervention options so that adults are better equipped to seek help when concerns emerge.
Communication Interventions Toolkit
The research provides detailed advice on message creation (including content type, length and style) for a variety of platforms - for both young people and their carers.
Teenage Boys and Young Men
| Style | Topics | Format | Language | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tik Tok | Personality-driven content | Lifestyle advice such as fitness, eating healthily, wellbeing, organisation, work, and relationships with women and girls | Video; short length of 2-3 minutes maximum; informally filmed in everyday locations | Casual, friendly, personable |
| YouTube | Personality-driven content | Lifestyle advice as noted above; but also commentary on modern society | Video; length can be up to or over an hour; filmed formally with good quality audio and lighting, seated at a desk | Personable, but also reflective; more often referencing |
Parents, Educators, Caregivers
| Style | Topics | Format | Language | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social media (Instagram, Facebook, X - formerly Twitter, Websites) | Informed yet respectful of parental authority, empathetic approach; details on support systems or other advice | Parenting methods, school cultures, support programs | Brightly-coloured, clean infographics or videos, tailored to platform preferences | Simple, everyday language; positive and non-stigmatising language; avoiding jargon or alarming phrases |
| Mainstream or legacy media | Informed yet respectful of parental authority; empathetic approach; provides details on support systems or other advice | Parenting methods, school cultures, support programs; deeper discussion of causes of manosphere/Countering violent extremism (CVE), first person case studies | According to conventions of legacy media, such as TV interviews or newspaper articles | Informed yet respectful of parental authority; told by experts or people with direct experience of the situation; non-stigmatising language, avoiding jargon |
Summary of insights
This research provides valuable insights into how online influence works with the manosphere and how young males engage with content related to masculinity, identity and belonging.
Successful prevention efforts highlight the importance of:
- Reaching young people through trusted voices and familiar platforms
- Promoting healthy and positive messages in engaging ways
- Supporting parents, carers and educators with practical information
- Identifying concerns early and connecting people with help when needed.
Parents, carers, educators and other trusted adults remain as some of the most important protective factors in a young person's life. Providing them with the right knowledge and support can help identify risks earlier, as well as create safer and healthier online experiences for young people.
Who was involved in the research?
The Diverting the Manosphere Pipeline: Designing Interventions to Youth Radicalisation project was developed with the Department of Justice NSW, in partnership with leading researchers from:
- University of Technology, Sydney (UTS)
- University of California, Berkeley.
Lead researchers
- Marian-Andrei Rizoiu, Associate Professor, UTS
- Emily Booth, Research Fellow, UTS
- Sarah Ayoub, Research Assistant, UTS
- Hany Farid, Professor, University of California, Berkeley.
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