Lancet Report Treats Manosphere as Public Health Threat

A new report published in the Lancet argues that the digital network known as the manosphere functions as a commercial ecosystem that harms public health. The authors propose that policymakers treat the industry with the same regulatory force used against tobacco and ultra-processed food manufacturers. This approach shifts the financial burden from individual users to the platforms that host the content and the creators who monetize it.

The report, authored by Professors Sarah Hawkes and Kent Buse of the think tank Global 50/50, identifies a specific economic model driving the issue. These influencers market content under categories such as fitness, dating, and wealth creation. The authors state that this content redirects blame for structural economic problems onto women and feminism. They argue that this narrative creates a market for insecurity among boys and young men, which the industry then sells as a cure.

The financial scale of the influence is substantial. The Children’s Society previously found that two-thirds of young men watch these creators. A 2024 study by HOPE not hate reported that 80% of boys aged 16 and 17 had watched Andrew Tate. The Tate brothers, who face extradition to the UK for rape and sex trafficking charges, are cited as leading figures in this community. Andrew Tate has publicly described himself as a misogynist and discussed physical violence against women.

The report links this commercial ecosystem to measurable health costs. It cites increased rates of violence against women, including doxxing and cyberstalking, which can lead to PTSD and depression. For the target demographic of young men, the idealized body standards promoted by creators are linked to mental health issues. The content also encourages men to avoid professional help, increasing the long-term cost to health services.

Prof Kent Buse emphasized the commercial nature of the problem in an interview. He stated that the manosphere cultivates insecurity and then sells the solution. He noted that boys engage with these platforms because they offer a sense of belonging that schools and families may not provide. The report suggests that regulation should target the incentives of hosting platforms rather than criminalizing the users, a strategy similar to banning tobacco advertisements aimed at children.

The UK government has responded to the findings. Jake Richards, the Minister for Men and Boys, called the report a wake-up call. He said the government is committed to closing off these online routes and providing alternatives. His department is launching the first misogyny prevention fund this week. He also referenced a national taskforce for tackling misogyny launched last month by Minister Bridget Phillipson.

The report outlines specific policy recommendations to address the root causes. It calls for improved access to mental health services and better employment opportunities for young men. It also suggests boosting skills training and re-engaging boys in education to reduce social isolation. These measures aim to reduce the demand for the digital products that exploit economic and social gaps.

Not all experts agree on the classification. Alex DiBranco, executive director of the US Institute for Research on Male Supremacism, argued that misogyny is an ideological issue rather than a mental health one. She warned that a mental health approach centers the experiences of boys and men as the primary victims. She noted that male supremacism has existed long before the internet and is not solely a digital phenomenon.