by Paeton Smith-Hiebert, Program Intern
Technology can be a useful tool for connecting with others, expressing oneself, and accessing information. However, it can also create online spaces where harmful or unhealthy ideas spread quickly, with lessened accountability, and lead to technology-facilitated sexual violence (TFSV). TFSV includes a range of harmful and sexually aggressive or harassing behaviors that are committed through the use of communication technology (Salerno-Ferraro et al., 2022).
One growing concern related to TFSV is what is referred to as the “manosphere” (UN Women, 2025). The manosphere is a loose network of online communities that promote misogyny, male supremacy, and gender-based violence, including sexual violence (SV). Although different sub-groups within the manosphere may not agree on everything, many share common beliefs rooted in misogyny and antifeminism (UN Women, 2025).
Manosphere spaces contribute directly to TFSV by using language and beliefs that glorify or excuse sexual harm. For example, users may use these spaces to share nonconsensual sexual images or AI-generated “deep fake” pornography (UN Women, 2025). They may also dox someone (publicly share personal information without consent), cyberstalk or cyber-harass someone, or threaten or blackmail someone with nonconsensual sexual images (UN Women, 2025). Additionally, users often blame women for men’s struggles and promote hateful, and sometimes violent, responses. In some cases, this online hate can lead to real-world attacks (United States Secret Service, 2022). A joint report from the McCain Institute and the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (2021) found that between 2014-2021, more than 53 people were killed and hundreds were injured in attacks linked to the Incel (involuntary celibate) community, one of the many subgroups that comprise the manosphere (UN Women, 2025).
Manosphere spaces normalize many of the risk factors for SV perpetration as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For instance, the CDC (2024) identifies individual-level risk factors for SV perpetration as including a lack of empathy, aggressive or violent behavior, coercive sexual fantasies, rigid gender roles, hostility toward women, hyper-masculinity, and peer reinforcement of aggression. These norms are often promoted by manosphere communities on platforms like Reddit, Discord, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), 4chan, and private forums (Venkataramakrishnan et al., 2024).
The normalization of this kind of TFSV can escalate up the Rape Culture Pyramid, from things like sexist jokes or victim-blaming to more serious acts of SV (VSDVAA) as manosphere communities encourage each other to promote sexual entitlement, which can make these behaviors seem acceptable to users.
The harmful ideologies within the manosphere, including risk factors for SV perpetration (CDC, 2024), spread partly due to the visibility and moderation policies of online platforms. While mainstream platforms like TikTok have stricter rules and some level of moderation, manosphere communities on these platforms still benefit from increased visibility (Solea et al., 2023). On the other hand, fringe platforms and forums tend to be more isolated and often lack moderation, which allows more toxic content to thrive (Solea et al., 2023). The relatively weak moderation on these platforms allows harmful content to spread unchecked.
Additionally, manosphere users often use coded language—such as "red pill" (referring to the decision to 'wake up' to the reality that the world favors women over men), "Stacy" (a beautiful, hyperfeminine woman, often portrayed as unintelligent and promiscuous), "Chad" (conventionally attractive men who are successful in relationships and sex, the opposite of an incel), and "femoid" (literally, 'female humanoid,' used to express the belief that women are not only inferior to men but less than human)—to share their beliefs and signal their views without being flagged by content moderators for discussing more extreme topics (UN Women, 2025; McCain Institute & ISD, 2021).
Societal risk factors for SV perpetration are normalized, including sexual entitlement and negative attitudes or beliefs toward certain groups of individuals based on their race, sex, sexual orientation, (dis)ability, or socioeconomic status (CDC, 2024). Survivors—especially women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people of color—often face compounded harm in the manosphere. Survivors who speak out online may be harassed, blamed, or humiliated.
Myths about SV are often spread through online misogynistic attacks on survivors who share their experiences, such as through the #MeToo movement. One study found that 69% of the comments on these disclosures expressed at least one common myth or misconception about SV (e.g. “she asked for it,” “it wasn’t really rape,” “she lied,” etc.) (Rennie, 2023). This online misogyny limits survivors’ ability to share their experiences without judgement. These negative responses can lead to secondary victimization, which can harm survivors’ recovery, mental health and ability to disclose future experiences (Rennie, 2023).
The manosphere is not just a collection of internet subcultures (UN Women, 2025)—it’s an increasing contributor to both online and real-world SV in the digital age (United States Secret Service, 2022). Its influence goes beyond screens and plays a significant role in shaping how individuals, especially young people, view relationships, consent, and social norms related to SV (UN Women, 2025).
Countering the effects of the manosphere starts with conversation. Encouraging open and honest discussions about gender equality, stereotypes, and online content (UN Women, 2025); normalizing emotional expression, empathy, and communication (UN Women, 2025); and promoting healthy masculinity by addressing and analyzing gender stereotypes in media are all key steps. (UN Women, 2025). These actions help promote healthy masculinity in the digital age and fight against online misogyny.
Resources for Survivors & Service Providers who Work with Survivors of TFSV:
Resources for Engaging Men in Prevention:
References
Bates, L. Men Who Hate Women: From Incels to Pickup Artists, the Truth About Extreme Misogyny and How It Affects Us All. (2023)
Bundtzen, S. (2023). "Misogynistic Pathways to Radicalisation: Recommended Measures for Platforms to Assess and Mitigate Online Gender-Based Violence." Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD). Retrieved July 25, 2025, from here.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2024). "Risk and Protective Factors." Retrieved June 30, 2025, from here.
Department of Homeland Security, United States Secret Service, National Threat Assessment Center. (2022). "Hot Yoga Tallahassee: A Case Study of Misogynistic Extremism." Retrieved June 30, 2025, from here.
Gotell, L. & Dutton, E. (2016). "Sexual Violence in the ‘Manosphere’: Antifeminist Men’s Rights Discourses on Rape" Retrieved July 25, 2025, from here.
McCain Institute & Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD). (2021). "The Threat Landscape: Incel and Misogynist Violent Extremism." Retrieved July 25, 2025, from here.
Rennie, E. (2023). "‘What a Lying Slut’: The (Re)Production of Rape Myths in Online Misogyny Towards Women Disclosing Their Experiences of Rape Through The #MeToo Movement." The Journal of Gender-Based Violence. Retrieved July 25, 2025, from here.
Salerno-Ferraro, A. C., Erentzen, C., & Schuller, R. A. (2022). "Young Women’s Experiences With Technology-Facilitated Sexual Violence from Male Strangers." Journal of Interpersonal Violence. Retrieved July 15, 2025, from here.
Solea, A. & Sugiura, L. (2023). "Mainstreaming the Blackpill: Understanding the Incel Community on TikTok." European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research. Retrieved July 25, 2025, from here.
Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). (2025). "Male Supremacy." Retrieved on June 30, 2025, from here.
UN Women. (2025). "FAQs: Digital Abuse, trolling, stalking, and other forms of technology-facilitated violence against women." Retrieved June 30, 2025, from here.
UN Women. (2025). "How to Counter the Manosphere’s Toxic Influence." Retrieved on June 30, 2025, from here.
UN Women. (2025). "The Manosphere is No Joke. UN Women Explains Why." Retrieved July 14, 2025, from here.
UN Women. (2025). "What Is The Manosphere and Why Should We Care?" Retrieved June 30, 2025, from here.
Venkataramakrishnan, S. & Squirrell, T. (2024). "The ‘Manosphere’." Retrieved July 25, 2025, from here.
Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance (VSDVAA). n.d. "Ending Rape Culture Activity Zine." Retrieved June 30, 2025, from here.
