By Judy Bruce
Louis Theroux has gone deep into the misogyny, homophobia and racism of the manosphere and found a world profiting on hate but sold on self-love.
It is a world that we must help our young people resist, and luckily, we know how to do so – but there is no quick fix.
Shaped by influencers and content creators online, the harmful ideology is increasingly commonplace in the backyards and playgrounds of homes and schools across New Zealand.
Teachers, youth workers, sport coaches and parents are all sharing concerns about the way the manosphere world view is shaping male supremacist views, especially among young men.
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The manosphere is typically understood as an ideology that promotes misogyny (the degradation and low opinion of women), homophobia, and racism.
Watching the new documentary Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere, what stood out to me were the many contradictions inherent within the manosphere ideology.
Drawing on the film The Matrix, influencers promote the idea of taking the ‘red pill’ as an antidote to the oppression of men. In response to this oppression, influencers argue that men need to revolt against a system that has failed them by building a world of based on wealth, fitness, and the acquisition and dominance of women. If young men ‘take the red pill’ and follow what the influencers are saying, they will become rich and happy.
The irony is that by ‘taking the red pill’ followers become, as Theroux argues, “part of an algorithmic prison that influencers have created for their followers: an illusion of endless wealth and power that only enriches a few at the top”.
The manosphere is selling a product to young men based on ideas of hate but sold on ideas of self-love.
One influencer shares his view online, “I am all of those things: racist, homophobic, and misogynist”, yet admits that he is saying these things to clip farm (more views, more money). He doesn’t really believe them.
Another contradiction apparent is that influencers advocate for ‘trad wives’ and traditional family values, while at the same time promoting one way monogamy (faithfulness from their female partner, while having multiple sexual relationships for themselves).
Influencers promote ways of being with multiple women whose value is entirely based on their looks, while at the same time degrading them with hate-based comments, and messages of dominance: “a girl wants a guy who will dominate them”; “what you say goes”; and “women shouldn’t vote”.
Here in our own backyard, just as Theroux notes globally, “we are all increasingly inside the manosphere and it is up to us to get out”. In 2025, the PPTA released a report about the rise of manosphere talk among young men in our schools. And for the first time this year, the Security Intelligence Service (SIS) shared concerns about rising extremism online among young men in New Zealand.
Young men they say who are seeking an ideology to fit with their views online – views of violence and hate.
Beyond the manosphere and extremism online as well as other social media concerns, we know what works for young people to successfully transition from childhood to adulthood. Even within the complexities of a previously uncharted digital world, there are ways we can support children and young people to navigate the digital world. There is no quick fix, single solution.
We need to collectively adopt a youth development approach that supports young people to build connection, competence, choice, and contribution.
Connection is critical. Of course, all young people need to have friendships, family and fun. We can encourage connection through school, faith-based organisations, sports and other community groups.
Competence means “I know what my strengths are, what I am good at”. We need to support young people to grow their strengths and support them to get good at things like critical thinking skills so they can decode an often, confusing and contradicting online world.
Choice relates to the need young people have for freedom and independence. We can foster choice and freedom through boundaries and responsibility, as well as learning to live away from the addiction of devices.
Contribution and growing in a life of meaning and purpose motivates young people as they transition. This includes acts of generosity and kindness toward others.
If we can support young people to develop in these ways, then they are more likely to grow into well-rounded adults that are respectful of others.
Judy Bruce is a Senior Lecturer in education at the Auckland University of Technology.
