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Health · Europe

UK report calls for public-health approach to online misogyny

A report covered by the Mirror says the manosphere should be treated as a public health problem, with regulation comparable to that for smoking and fast food. Its authors say online platforms and companies profit from young men’s anger and insecurities, and argue that algorithms could help counter the harm.

AI-assisted synthesis · Based on 5 outlets' reporting · Article text read from 1 of 5 outletsHow it's made

View timeline · 5 entries
5 outletsLatest reporting 3 min read
Coverage: MixedL 3 · C 2 · R 0
Updat3 graphic: United Kingdom
Updat3 graphic · Map data: Natural Earth Natural Earth (public domain)

What happened

Key facts

  • UK experts have called for the manosphere and online misogyny to be treated as public health issues (per mirror.co.uk, ua.news, thisislocallondon.co.uk).
  • Professor Sarah Hawkes, a report co-author and co-founder of Global 50/50, said the manosphere offers boys and young men belonging, identity and an explanation for why life feels hard (per mirror.co.uk).
  • Previous research cited in the Mirror report found that about 63 per cent of young men were thought to watch masculinity influencers (per mirror.co.uk).
  • The Mirror report says one in six boys aged six to 15 were said to have a positive opinion of Andrew Tate (per mirror.co.uk).

The brief

A report on the manosphere and online misogyny calls for them to be treated as public health issues, with regulation comparable to measures used for smoking and fast food. The Mirror reported the recommendations and the authors’ argument that online platforms and companies profit from young men’s anger and insecurities.

The report’s authors say the online environment rewards outrage and grievance as profitable. They propose harnessing algorithms to counter what they describe as the manosphere’s harm and promote positive messaging.

The report’s case, as presented by the Mirror, therefore links its proposed public-health approach to both regulation and the way online platforms distribute material. Professor Sarah Hawkes, a report co-author and co-founder of Global 50/50, said the manosphere offers boys and young men belonging, identity and an explanation for why life feels hard.

Her account presents the online world as addressing needs for connection and explanations, while the report warns about the content and incentives surrounding it. The Mirror cited previous research suggesting that about 63 per cent of young men were thought to watch masculinity influencers.

It also reported that one in six boys aged six to 15 were said to have a positive opinion of Andrew Tate. These figures are presented as research findings and estimates, rather than as a count of all young men or boys. The Mirror also reported that Louis Theroux explored the misogynist online world in a documentary after hearing his sons discuss Andrew Tate in 2022.

The account connects that documentary to the public discussion of the manosphere, but does not describe its findings or provide further detail about the report’s evidence. Headlines from UA.NEWS, thisislocallondon.co.uk, The Guardian and The Independent also characterize the issue as one requiring a public-health approach.

Their headlines frame the proposal in similar terms, with the smoking comparison appearing in the thisislocallondon.co.uk and The Independent headlines. The Mirror’s account does not identify a timetable for the proposed regulation or specify which body would implement it.

Why it matters

  • Boys aged six to 15 are part of the population discussed; the Mirror reports that one in six in this age group were said to have a positive opinion of Andrew Tate.
  • Young men’s exposure to masculinity influencers is a stated concern: previous research cited by the Mirror estimated that about 63 per cent were thought to watch them.
  • The report identifies online platforms and companies as profiting from young men’s anger and insecurities, and proposes regulation and algorithmic changes as mechanisms to address the issue.

What to watch next

  • Whether the report’s authors or other named actors specify what regulation comparable to smoking and fast-food measures would involve.
  • Whether the proposed use of algorithms to promote positive messaging is developed into a specific action.
  • Whether the report’s authors provide further detail about the evidence behind the cited audience estimates.

How it's being covered

Coverage analysisShow details
5 source articles · 5 unique outlets
Outlet political mix: Mixed· 3 Left · 2 Center
Where the outlets are based: Europe 100%
Outlet political mix
Mixed
Left
Center
Right
3 outlets
2 outlets
0 outlets
The marker shows coverage balance: each unique outlet counts once.
Geography
Where the outlets covering this story are based.
5 unique outletsDominant coverage: Europe
Coverage imbalance
  • Coverage is currently concentrated among outlets based in Europe (5 of 5 geographically-identified sources).
How we measure coverage

How outlets' accounts compare

Updat3 does not yet have enough full reports to compare how outlets framed this story.

Timeline

Developments from this story's sources, dated background we compiled and fact-checked, and our earlier coverage. Each row says which.
  1. The Equality Act consolidated protections against discrimination, including on grounds of sex.
    Background · compiled and fact-checked by Updat3
  2. The Gamergate controversy brought online harassment of women in games media into public focus.
    Background · compiled and fact-checked by Updat3
  3. In 2021, the UK government published its Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls strategy, linking prevention to education and changes in attitudes as well as criminal justice.
    Background · from our historical context
  4. In August 2022, TikTok and Meta removed Andrew Tate from their platforms, citing violations of their rules; YouTube followed that month.
    Background · from our historical context
  5. In October 2023, the UK’s Online Safety Act received Royal Assent, creating duties for platforms to address specified illegal content and protect children from defined categories of harmful material.
    Background · from our historical context

How we got here

In August 2022, TikTok and Meta removed Andrew Tate from their platforms, citing violations of their rules; YouTube followed that month. In October 2023, the UK’s Online Safety Act received Royal Assent, creating duties for platforms to address specified illegal content and protect children from defined categories of harmful material.

The Act did not make misogynistic content, by itself, a general category of illegal content. The Act built on the Communications Act 2003, which established Ofcom’s role as the UK communications regulator, and the Equality Act 2010, which consolidated protections against discrimination, including on grounds of sex.

Original sources

5 articles from 5 outlets · Europe · Show all

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