Manosphere

Just like so many in my network, I too watched Louis Theroux’s documentary Inside the Manosphere. And I am shocked on several levels by what I saw. And that is not just about the manosphere itself…

Please be advised that the text below does contain spoilers.

Patriarchy

Let me start with something I haven’t seen, but which I do experience: that the online manosphere is an extension of the offline patriarchy. Of the world as it existed before social media. Yes, the manosphere is a bubble in itself and an amplification of conservative ideas. But it is not the source of those ideas: that is our society itself. So, if we want to do something about the manosphere — an action list will follow later — we must start in the real world. An online-only approach would be treating the symptoms, not the cause.

We created the need for the manosphere ourselves, by cutting back on the wages of essential workers. By continuously labeling practically trained people as ‘deplorables,’ as negligible — or even costly. By investing in the knowledge economy without including practically trained people in the opportunities of the new world. And by investing in women and their economic independence — a much needed route, of which the end is not yet in sight — but subsequently failing to include boys and men in their socio-emotional emancipation. That is a collective choice. Not a conscious one, but one with a huge effect.

Attention economy

One that would prove a fertile ground for abuse. And boy, are boys and men being abused. How the influencers do that? A little something called the attention economy: getting people’s attention through content and then converting that into sales. There seem to be three constants in their strategy for attention: sex, violence, and extreme opinions.

And in this case, content is subordinate to form. One could easily preach chaste behavior for women on one day, only to earn money the next by collecting clicking fees for OnlyFans through the same platform. How the influencers feel about that incongruity? Irrelevant, according to the entrepreneurs in the documentary. Earning money through sales is the goal.

But what happens when that attention dries up? Easy, they just move on to the next controversial topic. One influencer even said on camera that the manosphere has almost become mainstream. So he expects the manosphere to move into a different direction soon. There are more than enough topics to choose from: anti-vax, conspiracy theories, woke, you name it. Anything goes. Anything that will generate attention. With a supporting role for the truth. At best.

Peter Pan

Personally, I find the metaphor they use — The Matrix — quite misplaced. It is not about the truth at all. I actually think Peter Pan is more appropriate: boys who no longer recognize themselves in society and who retreat to an island. Only to subsequently rebel against adults, against rules, against growing up in general. Lost boys, forever.

That is not funny, but heartbreaking. There are only losers: the boys and men who turn away from society, and society itself.

Time for action

We, as a collective, have helped cause this. Therefore, it is our turn to come up with solutions. As far as I am concerned, there are three things we should have done yesterday:

1. Disable the enabler. Social media is not the cause of the manosphere, but it can be considered as the accelerator. More moderation is no longer enough. We have to resort to age restrictions, human-serving algorithms and public ownership of these platforms.
2. Crack the business model. Why is it illegal for young people under 18 (Dutch law) to buy cigarettes, but can they so easily ‘invest’ €50 a month in BS products that demonstrably don’t work? Money that is subsequently used solely to support the expensive lifestyle of just a handful of influencers?
3. Create a new narrative with accompanying opportunities. Yes, the place men occupy in society is changing. And some men can handle that perfectly well on their own. But a large group of boys and men struggles to find their place. Support them in this, structurally. And not just in words, but especially in deeds: with social policies, emotional emancipation for men, higher wages, affordable housing, a vision for a future-proof labor market, individual support, etc.

That’s right: the same leftist stuff that most guys in the manosphere are rebelling against. Because that is the only thing that works. And that’s the truth.