Latest news with #manosphere
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Science
- The Guardian
The online ‘manosphere' poses a real threat to society
The harms associated with the 'manosphere' have been addressed in lots of academic work, including our own, and it is encouraging to see Ofcom – tasked with making online platforms comply with the law on online safety – take an interest. However, having read Ofcom's research and the Guardian's article on it (Society may have overestimated risk of the 'manosphere', UK researchers say, 13 June), we wish to stress that the manosphere poses a very real risk to society and that underestimating the problem will only contribute to it. The research consisted of 39 interviews with people who have seen and/or created manosphere content. While there is value in such a study, both Ofcom and the Guardian acknowledge that those with more extreme views may refuse to participate. Interviewees may also aim to present themselves, and their community, in a more positive light, downplaying misogynistic views. Interviewees' claims – such as finding 'entertainment' in the videos of Andrew Tate – were not questioned by the Ofcom study. Promoting traditional gender roles and discussing perceived immutable differences between men and women was also seen as merely 'ambiguous[ly]' misogynistic. But misogyny is more than explicitly declaring to hate women. The article's headline uses the results of a small-scale study to draw conclusions about 'society' as a whole. This is untenable; indeed, the original report states that findings 'point to a range of risk factors that may increase the likelihood of harm'. That the harm has been overestimated appears to be the interpretation of the managing director of the research agency, who spoke separately to the Guardian. Online misogyny and its mainstreaming is a pervasive issue that is difficult to identify and monitor, and requires a whole-society solution. Ofcom should work with academics and safeguarding professionals: together, we have a chance to address the risks posed by the manosphere – but only if they are taken seriously. Prof Veronika Koller Lancaster University, Dr Jessica Aiston Queen Mary University London, Dr Alexandra Krendel University of Southampton, Dr Mark McGlashan University of Liverpool
Gizmodo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Gizmodo
The Internet's Alpha Males Flip-Flop on Trump's War
For nearly three days, the alpha male wing of the internet had nothing to say. The self-appointed guardians of masculinity—online personalities who preach strength, dominance, and unwavering values—went uncharacteristically quiet after Donald Trump authorized U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites on June 21. It was a stunning silence from men who built their brands on calling out weakness and railing against perceived hypocrisy. Their values, they say, didn't change. But the man they attached them to—Donald Trump—just might have tested their limits. And for nearly three days, they vanished. This is the world of the manosphere: a constellation of influencers, podcasters, and talking heads who reach millions of young men with a blend of anti-feminist rhetoric, self-improvement mantras, and staunch MAGA loyalty. For years, many of them embraced Trump because of his anti-woke, anti-interventionist America First platform. They rallied behind his hardline stance on immigration and his vow to end 'forever wars.' But the Israel-Iran crisis shook the foundation. It began with Israeli airstrikes on Iran on June 12. Then came the U.S. bombings of Iranian nuclear sites on June 21. For a group that preaches loyalty to core values over political parties, this should have been a moment to speak up. They didn't. Even Tucker Carlson, once Fox News' top-rated host and a central figure in the new right, went silent. With over 16 million followers on X, his absence was glaring. That changed on June 23, after Trump announced a ceasefire. Carlson broke his silence: 'Thank God,' he posted. Thank God. — Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) June 24, 2025Two hours later, he added: 'Thank God Trump brokered a ceasefire,' before calling out Fox News conservative pundit Mark Levin: 'That's the last thing Mark Levin wanted.' Carlson also shared a video of his interview with former Fox host Clayton Morris, who said: 'People didn't vote for this,' referring to the war. The two accused Trump's base of pushing war propaganda. Thank God Trump brokered a ceasefire. That's the last thing Mark Levin wanted. (0:00) Fox News' War Propaganda(10:15) Who's Really Controlling the Corporate Media Narrative?(21:55) The Absurdity of 'Woke Right'(24:50) 9-11, Anthrax Attacks, and Forever Wars(30:43) Thomas… — Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) June 24, 2025Charlie Kirk, head of Turning Point USA and one of the manosphere's loudest MAGA supporters, spent days wobbling. On June 12, he voiced concern, warning Trump that young men who voted for him 'didn't vote for war.' But as backlash from other factions of Make America Great Again mounted, he pivoted to defending the strikes. After the ceasefire, he hailed Trump's diplomacy as legendary: 'You are witnessing legendary stuff from Trump.' You are witnessing legendary stuff from Trump — Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) June 24, 2025 Then came the pivot. 'No nukes for Iran No troops on the ground No US troops dead No regime change No nation building No war President Trump with a historic masterclass,' Kirk wrote. No nukes for Iran No troops on the ground No us troops dead No regime change No nation building No war President Trump with a historic masterclass. — Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) June 24, 2025He even went as far as to declare that 'President Trump 'should get the Nobel Peace Prize.' Andrew Tate, the hyper-masculine influencer and self-proclaimed voice of 'real men,' resurfaced with a smug post just 14 minutes after Trump's ceasefire announcement: 'Told you,' wrote Tate, who is Muslim. Told you. — Andrew Tate (@Cobratate) June 23, 2025In a video posted earlier, Tate argued Trump hadn't violated America First values, because he hadn't upset the rich. 'Nobody has ever cared about poor people. They will never care about poor people. Wake up,' he claimed. Told you. — Andrew Tate (@Cobratate) June 23, 2025 Matt Walsh, another anti-interventionist voice in the manosphere, responded to Trump's June 24 warning to Israel with a tweet of his own. 'We got involved in this conflict primarily for Israel's sake, not our own. It's delusional to deny that. Now Trump is obviously fed up. As he should be. Time to leave this circus and let Israel deal with its own problems.' Trump had posted that: 'ISRAEL. DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW! DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.' We got involved in this conflict primarily for Israel's sake, not our own. It's delusional to deny that. Now Trump is obviously fed up. As he should be. Time to leave this circus and let Israel deal with its own problems. — Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) June 24, 2025Ben Shapiro, a staunch pro-Israel conservative, offered a different tone. 'Thank you, Mr. President, for restoring Peace Through Strength! There has never been a president in my lifetime with @realDonaldTrump's spine.' Thank you, Mr. President, for restoring Peace Through Strength! There has never been a president in my lifetime with @realDonaldTrump's spine. — Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) June 22, 2025Dave Smith, a libertarian comedian and regular guest on The Joe Rogan Experience, stood out as one of the few manosphere figures to consistently oppose the bombings. 'This has been a great moment for revealing who has principles and who is in a cult,' he posted. This has been a great moment for revealing who has principles and who is in a cult. — Dave Smith (@ComicDaveSmith) June 23, 2025The takeaway? The self-described alpha males who dominate the digital culture war went quiet when their values collided with their leader's decisions. They shout 'alpha,' but when it's time to act like one, they whisper.
Gizmodo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Gizmodo
Trump Just Silenced the Internet's Alpha Bros Over Iran
It was the kind of moment that usually lights up the manosphere. U.S. bombs fell on Iran on June 21 in a dramatic military operation named 'Operation Midnight Hammer' that destroyed three major nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. President Donald Trump, in a televised address, warned that the United States might strike again if Iran did not agree to a diplomatic solution. In Iran, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the strikes during a press conference with reporters in Istanbul, saying: 'My country has been under attack, under aggression, and we have to respond based on our legitimate right of self-defense.' And yet… silence. Not a word from the loudest voices in the online male influencer sphere, the manosphere. The digital brotherhood that usually has a take for every cultural moment suddenly had nothing to say. The loudest MAGA influencers, known for defining masculinity online through war metaphors, grindset sermons, and political firebombs, logged off. The manosphere isn't a single movement. It's a chaotic constellation of figures from neoconservatives and libertarians to pro-Israel influencers, non-interventionist Christians, and Muslim masculinists. Together, they make up a vast online ecosystem that has shaped how millions of men, especially young ones, talk about politics, war, identity, and masculinity. When Israel first bombed Iran on June 12, many manosphere figures were already at war digitally over whether the U.S. should get involved. Some like Ben Shapiro called for full-throated U.S. support for Israel. Others, like Matt Walsh, were firmly against American military intervention, citing Trump's 2024 campaign promise to avoid foreign wars. The internal feud spilled across timelines. In the week that followed, Walsh was attacked by his own followers for being insufficiently hawkish. 'Matt Walsh will become woke right,' one user posted on X, formerly Twitter. 'I don't relish that fact, because I like Matt, and he's been one of my favorite conservative commentators for years.' Walsh fired back: 'This witch hunt is insane. You guys have lost your damned minds. Everything I'm saying about foreign policy right now is what I've been saying for as long as I've had a platform. So if me remaining incredibly consistent on the issues, and loyal to my friends, makes me 'woke right,' so be it.' This witch hunt is insane. You guys have lost your damned minds. Everything I'm saying about foreign policy right now is what I've been saying for as long as I've had a platform, and even before that. Many of the "woke right" people (whatever that means) that I'm "cozy" with are… — Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) June 19, 2025Two days later, the bombs dropped. And the discourse… evaporated. What followed wasn't unity. It was absence. The same influencers who had filled feeds with infographics, hot takes, and theological justifications for or against war suddenly stopped posting. It was especially striking given the stakes. A U.S. president had taken the country into an undeclared conflict that could widen into a regional war or worse. For a group that presents itself as truth-tellers and alpha defenders of Western values, their silence looked less like stoicism and more like paralysis. Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and a close Trump ally, had warned days earlier that military action would alienate the young male voters who powered Trump's comeback. But when the strikes happened, Kirk flipped. 'With the weight of the world on his shoulders, President Trump acted for the betterment of humanity,' Kirk posted on June 21. 'For the next few hours, spare us the arm chair quarterbacking and instead trust our Commander in Chief.' With the weight of the world on his shoulders, President Trump acted for the betterment of humanity. For the next few hours spare us the arm chair quarterbacking and instead trust our Commander in Chief. — Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) June 22, 2025Still, he hedged, trying not to lose followers who opposed intervention. 'Rejoicing because we dropped a bomb should be met with humility. Dooming should be met with cautionary optimism. The world is not over. Our best days are ahead.' In times like this, I find a lot of people say stuff they'll end up regretting. Hyper emotionality should be dismissed. Rejoicing because we dropped a bomb should be met with humility. Dooming should be met cautionary optimism. The world is not over. Our best days are ahead. — Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) June 22, 2025Others went quiet altogether. Patrick Bet-David, an Iranian-American entrepreneur who often criticizes the Ayatollah regime, merely wrote 'Interesting' under Trump's Truth Social post. Interesting. — Patrick Bet-David (@patrickbetdavid) June 22, 2025Even Ben Shapiro, who has built a career supporting Israeli security interests, didn't immediately weigh in. Only a few broke the silence. Konstantin Kisin, a British commentator aligned with the pro-Israel right, supported the bombings. 'Yes, I'm glad the Islamic Revolutionary regime will not get nuclear weapons,' he posted. Yes, I'm glad the Islamic Revolutionary regime will not get nuclear weapons. This is why: — Konstantin Kisin (@KonstantinKisin) June 22, 2025But in the anti-war camp, the pushback was scarce except for Dave Smith, a libertarian comedian and regular on The Joe Rogan Experience, who didn't mince words. 'Donald Trump has now launched an illegal war of aggression against Iran. The risk of an absolute catastrophe is very high and the benefits are non-existent,' Smith wrote. 'Worst of all, he did it on behalf of a foreign government against a country which posed no threat to us.' Donald Trump has now launched an illegal war of aggression against Iran. The risk of an absolute catastrophe is very high and the benefits are non existent. Worst of all, he did it on behalf of a foreign government against a country who posed no threat to us. — Dave Smith (@ComicDaveSmith) June 22, 2025This is a crisis of identity. The manosphere has spent years turning strength, dominance, and moral clarity into a brand. But Trump's Iran strike broke their frame. For once, the ultimate alpha male, Trump himself, forced his online followers into a moral corner. Choose the leader, or choose the principle. Many chose silence. The fallout from 'Operation Midnight Hammer' is still unfolding. But the long-term damage may already be done. Trump may have reminded his base who's boss. But in doing so, he may have broken the illusion that the alpha influencers ever stood for anything more than power itself.
The Independent
15-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Fewer than half of young men believe abortion should be legal, poll finds
Fewer than half of young men believe abortion should be legal, far less than the general population, a shocking new poll has found. Just 46 per cent of 18 to 36-year-old men believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, compared with 71 per cent among the general population. Amid concerns about the rise of the manosphere - a growing online community of hypermasculine influencers - the Ipsos poll showed a stark drop in support for abortion in those aged under 36. Eight in 10 55 to 75-year-old men support abortion being legal in all or most cases, while three-quarters of 35 to 54-year-olds do. And, among those aged 18 to 36, more than a third of men think abortion should be illegal in most or all cases, the poll found. Labour MP Stella Creasy, a prominent campaigner in parliament for abortion access, told The Independent: 'Those [who are] complacent that abortion access is supported in this country don't understand the culture war is chipping away at all women's rights, including healthcare.' The polling comes before MPs vote this week on decriminalising abortion through amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill. Currently, abortions can legally be carried out within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy in England, Scotland and Wales. They must be approved by two doctors, with the health professionals agreeing continuing with the pregnancy would be riskier for the physical or mental health of the woman than having an abortion. While this is what the law stipulates, in reality, abortions can be given, whatever the person's reasoning. But an amendment tabled by Ms Creasy would see abortion enshrined as a human right, as has been done in Northern Ireland. 'The only way we can stop women being targeted in this way and ensure they have safe and legal access is to designate abortion a human right as we have in Northern Ireland, and only new clause 20 to the policing bill will do that,' she added. A rival amendment tabled by Labour's Tonia Antoniazzi - which would mean women can no longer be prosecuted for terminating a pregnancy in England and Wales - is seen as more likely to get the backing of MPs. Ms Antoniazzi told The Independent the poll should serve as 'a reminder to male MPs for the vote on Tuesday that they can't just leave this work to women'. She urged colleagues to back her amendment and added: 'This is one poll. It's important to recognise that this poll, just like every other on abortion, shows that the country as a whole remains staunchly pro-choice.' But she said the findings were a 'clear example of the fact that women's hard-won rights can never be taken for granted'. It 'underscores why we must always keep fighting to preserve and advance them, as we do,' she added. It came as a row broke out in the final days before Tuesday's votes, with supporters of Ms Creasy's amendment accusing backers of Ms Antoniazzi of a campaign to get MPs to withdraw their support. Ms Creasy fears Ms Antoniazzi's amendment does not go far enough in enshrining and protecting the right to abortion, but the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) said it has 'profound concerns' about the drafting of Ms Creasy's amendment. It called on MPs to withdraw their support for Ms Creasy's proposal and refuse to support it. Ahead of the votes, Ipsos found broad support for abortion access except among young men. The pollster also found that around half of voters think the current 24-week time limit for abortions is 'about right', with a quarter saying it is too late and just 4 per cent saying it is too early. Nigel Farage said last month that it is 'ludicrous we allow abortion up to 24 weeks' and that the law is 'totally out of date'. And, asked about illegal abortions, just over half of voters said the person who performed an abortion should face a penalty, compared with under a third who think the woman having the abortion should. Ipsos Pollster Kate Duxbury at Ipsos said: "While the majority of Britons support legal abortion, with seven in ten in favour, our polling reveals a significant fault line: less than half of young men aged 16-34 agree. 'This divergence, coupled with the fact that around half of Britons think the current 24-week limit is 'about right', highlights the complexities facing policymakers as they consider decriminalisation. It's clear that public opinion is far from monolithic, demanding a nuanced approach to this sensitive issue."
Telegraph
15-06-2025
- General
- Telegraph
The novels every 16-year-old boy should read
It's hard to be a boy. A few years ago, such a statement would be unthinkable. After all, we were told we lived in an enlightened world where traditionally 'masculine' qualities – strength, fortitude, stoicism – were outdated, even toxic. No longer. Almost weekly, we get a new headline decrying the difficulty of being a young man. Andrew Tate, the manosphere, Adolescence: the crisis of boyhood, especially among poor, working-class boys, is well attested to. And last week the National Literacy Trust found that reading enjoyment for boys aged 11-16 is at the lowest level it has been for two decades; for girls, by contrast, it was slightly improved. What's to be done? One solution, of course, is to find books that boys want to read. By themselves, books won't teach you how to move through the world as a man. But there are few better places to start: books are invitations to other worlds, other minds. There is no better tool for empathy. My boyhood reading is what made me who I am today. As a teenager, my tastes were omnivorous and hopelessly pretentious. But the book which stayed with me the most was Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. As a young man, I was thrilled by adventure and the sense of possibility that lay off the edge of old maps and half-understood languages. Now though, as a slightly less young man, I turn back to it for its quiet, gentle humanity. For me, the process of growing up through – and with – books, has above all been about grasping one message: to be a great man is easy. But to be a good man? That is truly tough. The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier First published in 1956, The Silver Sword tells the story of three Polish children Edek, Bronia and Ruth, caught up in the chaos of the Second World War, who with the help of an older boy, Jan, set off across Europe in search of their vanished parents. It's a cracking adventure story, with improving lessons about courage, friendship and loyalty. It first enthralled me when I was about 14, enthralled my son and more recently enthralled my grandson. Mick Brown Decline and Fall by Evelyn Waugh When I was 16 and thinking of trying to get into Cambridge to read English my marvellous English master gave me a pile of novels, plays and poetry to consume, reaching far outside the English A-level course. Hidden among the heavy novels was a slim volume called Decline and Fall, by Evelyn Waugh. I had never read anything like it; jokes on every page, many of them quite offensive, ridicule of the aristocracy, the church, the penal system and above all schools, and all told in a relentless narrative drive that caused me to finish the book in two or three hours. I had within weeks read everything else that Waugh wrote, and I doubt I was the only youth on whom he had that effect. His style is magnificent and his appeal irresistible. Simon Heffer by Geoffrey Household I can imagine that many teenage boys would find the reckless, solitary narrator of Household's classic thriller as easy to identify with as Adrian Mole. Published a few weeks before the outbreak of the Second World War, the book begins with the protagonist taking it on himself to assassinate an unnamed foreign leader (recognisably Hitler); failing, he goes on the run and ends up hiding from his pursuers in a hole in the ground in the 'green depths' of Dorset. The classic novel of how to draw on your inner resources to survive, it's the most exciting, vicarious adventure I've experienced. Jake Kerridge The Short Stories of HG Wells by HG Wells Long before there was Black Mirror, there was HG Wells cracking out some of the weirdest, most thought-provoking stories ever written. They're short; they don't dwell too much on character development; and they twist the mind in all sorts of new directions. The Country of the Blind and The Door in the Wall are classics, but there's plenty more to grab the teen imagination here. Enjoyed Supacell on Netflix? Take a sip of The New Accelerator, the elixir that makes movement so rapid it can set your clothes on fire. Like superheroes? Check out The Man Who Could Work Miracles. These stories are the foundation stones of science-fiction. Whole universes await. Chris Harvey Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow Don't let the fact that the title is a part of a Macbeth soliloquy put off the teenager in your life: Gabrielle Zevin's novel is really a paean to the magic of video games and young, mixed-sex friendships. The story of Sam and Sadie – childhood best friends who grew apart but rekindle their relationship and start a successful games studio – is modern, literary but accessible and, above all, an absorbing tale. While many parents fret about their children spending too much time playing video games rather than reading books, Tomorrow … could be an effective gateway to the joys of literature. I only wish that it had been published when I was a boy, rather than (as I did) reading it on my honeymoon. Liam Kelly The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut I haven't dared pick up a Vonnegut for 20 years. I fear he is one of those habits you probably ought to have dropped by your twenties, like picking your nose or minding who wins football matches. But I was a huge Vonnegut guy in my teens. Slaughterhouse-Five and Breakfast of Champions tend to be recommended but the one I really loved was The Sirens of Titan. It is so stuffed full of madcap ideas that no AI or video game could ever compete. Sadly I can't see how the plot would be relevant to readers today: it is about an astronomically wealthy man who finances a trip to Mars and imperils all of humanity. Ed Cumming by Adrian Tchaikovsky In my own teenage years, science fiction offered an exciting bridge to grown-up literature, with big ideas expressed in the fine prose of Ray Bradbury, Ursula K Le Guin, Philip K Dick and Kurt Vonnegut. Recently, one of my sons was having so much fun reading Dogs of War by contemporary British sci-fi star Adrian Tchaikovsky that I dove in myself. It's a mind-boggling story that extrapolates the genetically modified animals of HG Wells's The Island of Dr Moreau into a cyberpunk future not far removed from our own. The narrator is a heavily armed dog named Rex, and the tale addresses moral quandaries around artificial intelligence, slavery, animal welfare and the ethics of warfare with wit and pathos. My son and I have already gobbled up the excellent sequel, 2021's brilliant Bear Head, and eagerly await volume three, Bee Speaker (due later this year). Neil McCormick Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell 'It was a bright cold day in April and the clocks were striking thirteen'. If that stark opening line doesn't hook them in, then doubtful readers can be assured that the ensuing pages contain the most perturbing futuristic vision of England ever written, a world of constant surveillance, ever-changing jargon, physical violence, sinister authority and the crushing of individuality; in short everything a teenage boy may feel is already the case but magnified to the nth degree. Any young reader will emerge from Orwell 's suspenseful masterpiece armed with a handy range of sharp political and philosophical concepts and inspired to devour more where that came from. Dominic Cavendish
