The ‘Manosphere’ Isn’t a Movement. It’s a Multibillion-Dollar Grievance Industry
A new report suggests that the 'manosphere' is less of a grassroots political movement and more of a multibillion-dollar industry that exploits young men's grievances. Researchers found that algorithms route men toward paid coaching, crypto schemes, and unregulated supplements.
Why it matters
This analysis challenges the perception of online radicalization as purely ideological, framing it instead as a predatory commercial ecosystem.
For many years now, a dark question has haunted parents, teachers, the internet, and media institutions: What’s wrong with young men?
Why, people ask, are boys so politically extreme, spouting misogynist rhetoric, and increasingly drawn into risky crypto schemes and online gambling? How did they become so lonely, with their depression symptoms often overlooked? The male youth vote broke for Trump in the 2024 election following a GOP campaign built on naked appeals to meathead machismo. Yet there are signs that his second term in office has done little to stem the anger of Gen Z men, whose support for the president is now plummeting.
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