15.09.2026 | Gender / Violence & Aggression

After "Adolescence": What we know (and don’t know) about gender attitudes and online misogyny

Editorial Assistants: Charikleia Lampraki and Elena Benini.

Netflix’s Adolescence sparked the debate about whether social media can push boys towards misogyny. Research suggests a more complex picture: harmful content exists, but its influence and interpretation depend on much more than the type of content itself.

How does a seemingly innocent boy develop a deeply misogynistic worldview online? The much-discussed Netflix series Adolescence tells the story of a teenage boy who is drawn into online misogyny and ultimately arrested for the murder of a classmate. But is this really how it happens? Can social media itself trigger toxic masculine gender norms and turn adolescents into misogynists? Current research points to a more nuanced reality. Digital platforms can play a role, but there is no general negative influence of social media on boys’ gender norms. Only a few studies looked at masculinity norms directly; most focus on related outcomes such as sexist beliefs or body image concerns.

Social media and misogyny: What do we know?

Misogynistic ideas, “manosphere” influencers, and gender-stereotypical content are widely accessible to adolescents online. The manosphere refers to online communities and figures that promote male dominance and often anti-feminist views. A recent study in Sweden showed that men who followed more “manfluencers” online (e.g., Andrew Tate) reported more misogynistic attitudes. Across two follow-up studies, it was especially young men aged 18 to 25 with experiences of romantic rejection who reacted with the strongest mistrust towards women after seeing fictitious “manfluencer” content that framed women as a threat. The control group, who viewed neutral posts, did not show this pattern [1]. This highlights an important point: Online content does not affect everyone in the same way. Its effects may depend on boys’ pre-existing emotional vulnerabilities. Some boys may even actively seek manosphere content because it validates their feelings.
The type of platform and content also matters. A study from Spain found that greater use of Instagram and Snapchat among 14- to 16-year-olds was associated with higher levels of ambivalent sexist beliefs, including hostile sexism (meaning openly discriminatory attitudes towards women) and benevolent sexism (meaning seemingly positive but patronizing beliefs) [2]. Platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat are highly visual and based on algorithms. Teens often see similar posts again and again, which can strengthen certain gender norms. Interestingly, both boys and girls endorsed ambivalent sexist beliefs, while hostile sexism was higher among boys [2, 3].

What remains unclear?

Boys who view misogynistic content online do not live in isolation – they are part of families, peers, school, sports clubs. What they learn at home, how their friends talk about gender, and the norms at school all shape how they interpret what they see online. As a result, the effects of misogynistic content may vary widely from one boy to another. Peer dynamics, such as likes, jokes, group chats, and challenges, can reinforce sexist beliefs. These dynamics are central in Adolescence yet are still barely researched.
How does the amount of time spent online relate to sexist attitudes? This remains unclear. One study of US high school seniors found that more time on social media was linked to lower sexist attitudes in both genders [3]. However, another study with US 13- to 18-year-oldsattitudes reported that a heavier use of YouTube, gaming, and streaming platforms was associated with stronger endorsement of stereotypical masculine norms such as dominance, emotional detachment, toughness, and avoidance of femininity [4].
How do gender norms develop over time with social media use? How quickly do such attitudes change and potentially turn into action? We do not know, as there is a lack of long-term studies over multiple years. The direction of influence is also unclear. Boys may enter these online spaces because they already hold misogynistic beliefs, rather than the other way around. In one study, men with stronger toxic masculine attitudes also showed more hostile online behavior, supporting this idea [5].

Media versus reality?

The storyline and public debate around Adolescence illustrate one possible pathway through which misogynistic content can influence boys. It is essential to distinguish between sexist attitudes and radicalization or violence against women. As far as gender attitudes are concerned, research shows that social media influences boys only under certain conditions. A nuanced view is crucial: Understanding how and why boys use digital platforms offers more insight than treating social media as inherently harmful.

Bibliography

[1] E. A. Renström and H. Bäck, “Manfluencers and Young Men’s Misogynistic Attitudes: The role of perceived threats to men’s status,” Sex Roles, vol. 90, no. 12, pp. 1787–1806, Oct. 2024, doi: 10.1007/s11199-024-01538-2.
[2] J. L. G. Bermejo, C. M. Sánchez, O. V. Aguado, and E. B. García-Navarro, “Adolescents, ambivalent sexism and social networks, a conditioning factor in the healthcare of women,” Healthcare, vol. 9, no. 6, p. 721, Jun. 2021, doi: 10.3390/healthcare9060721.
[3] O. Turel, “Can hedonic technology use drive sexism in youth? Reconsidering the cultivation and objectification perspectives,” Behaviour and Information Technology, vol. 43, no. 2, pp. 231–245, Dec. 2022, doi: 10.1080/0144929x.2022.2159874.
[4] E. Scharrer and S. Warren, “Adolescents’ modern media use and beliefs about masculine gender roles and norms,” Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, vol. 99, no. 1, pp. 289–315, Aug. 2021, doi: 10.1177/10776990211035453.
[5] M. C. Parent, T. D. Gobble, and A. Rochlen, “Social media behavior, toxic masculinity, and depression,” Psychology of Men & Masculinity, vol. 20, no. 3, pp. 277–287, Apr. 2018, doi: 10.1037/men0000156.

Figure Sources

Figure 1: https://www.pexels.com/de-de/foto/mann-smartphone-verbindung-technologie-4048599/

Article Author(s)

Kate Schramm

Kate Schramm is a master’s student in psychology at the University of Würzburg, Germany. She is interested in the way digital media shape psychological processes such as self-perception and self-portrayal and their relation with psychological well-being. In addition to her studies, she works in human resources development and as a workshop trainer, focusing on topics such as communication, leadership, and stress management.

Silvana Weber

Dr. Silvana Weber is a postdoctoral researcher at the interdisciplinary Institute of Human-Computer-Media at the University of Würzburg and at the LMU Center for Leadership and People Management in Munich. She studied psychology at the University of Göttingen and the University of California Berkeley. She completed her doctorate at the University of Koblenz-Landau on the influence of stereotype threat and cultural identity on the academic performance of young people with a migration background. Her current research focuses on questions of media and identity with a special focus on gender and diversity, as well as the use of information and communication technologies in health communication.