Guidance for Parents and Professionals: Welcome to the www.manosphere.ch platform, an initiative of männer.ch
Guidance for Parents and Professionals: Welcome to the www.manosphere.ch platform, an initiative of männer.ch
The manosphere is a collective term for representations, debates and ideological narratives in the digital spaces that promote and defend notions of a “natural” masculinityMasculinity: Masculinity refers to the social and cultural expectations a man is expected to fulfil in order to be recognised as masculine.
Manhood, by contrast, refers to individual self-understanding and lived experience.
Terms such as masculinity norms, masculinity expectations or masculinity imperatives emphasise the normative character of masculinity.
The term toxic masculinity is widely used in public debate to criticise harmful patterns. However, because it can be perceived as accusatory, professionals often prefer more descriptive language. Research shows that rigid masculinity norms are associated with increased risks of violence and health-endangering behaviour.
and gender order. Algorithmic systems amplify and reinforce these messages.
Boys, male adolescents and young men are primarily reached through short audiovisual clips produced by so-called manfluencersManfluencer: Manfluencers are masculinity coaches with a strong social media presence who promote philosophies and services related to manhood. Central themes include dating, fitness, health, status, wealth and career success. The guiding premise is that men must optimise themselves through the deliberate performance of masculinity in order to achieve fulfilment. on platforms such as TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. Forums such as Reddit, as well as individual blogs and websites, also play a role. Increasingly, accounts focus on the topic itself rather than a specific personality. Podcasts are also relevant. Older men are more likely to use platforms such as X and Facebook, as well as the comment sections of traditional media outlets.
For example, platforms associated with the incel community (such as incels.is) and closed discussion groups on Telegram, Gab and Discord.
Including gaming forums and platforms such as Discord, Twitch, Steam and DLive.
Boys and male adolescents often encounter content from manfluencersManfluencer: Manfluencers are masculinity coaches with a strong social media presence who promote philosophies and services related to manhood.
Central themes include dating, fitness, health, status, wealth and career success. The guiding premise is that men must optimise themselves through the deliberate performance of masculinity in order to achieve fulfilment.
at an early stage and with increasing frequency. Algorithmic recommendation systems on platforms such as TikTok and YouTube can accelerate this process.
A study conducted by Dublin City University demonstrates how algorithmic functions influence the news feeds of male adolescents. Depending on search behaviour, clips from manfluencers can appear within minutes. If users engage with such content, algorithmic recommendations may increasingly prioritise similar material. Within three hours, up to three-quarters of a user’s feed may consist of manosphere-related content.1
The thematic spectrum is broad, and not all manfluencers explicitly justify violence. Content focusing on fitness, nutrition or motivation may also have positive effects. However, teachers and parents increasingly report problematic developments, including expressions of disrespect towards female teachers.
