Tate fate

High value men. LooksmaxxingAn online term, associated with incel culture, meaning to maximise one's physical attractiveness. . Lone wolf personality. Sigma malesAn internet slang term to describe a man who is successful but lives outside of social groups or rules. . Canthal tiltsThe angle between your inner eye and outer eye. . Mewing. Mogging.

It is like a different language. But increasingly, it is the one that young boys are being taught to speak by influencers looking to profit from their insecurities. 

These videos may initially focus on so-called "self-help" - getting rich, muscular and irresistible to women. But entry into these forums quickly leads people into an extreme subcultureThe way of life and customs of a particular group in society, which are outside the norm. : the "manosphere".

The manosphere is heavily associated with incelShort for involuntary celibate, the mostly online subculture defines itself as people who are unable to get a romantic or sexual partner despite wanting one. culture, and consists of a number of websites and blogs which rile upTo deliberately make someone angry. opposition to feminismCalling for women's rights with the aim of achieving gender equality. and promote violence against women.

And new research commissioned by Vodafone for Safer Internet Day shows that young boys are being targeted by AIA computer programme that has been designed to think.  algorithmsAny set of rules followed by a computer. In the context of social media, "the algorithm" refers to the intelligent AI that learns the interests of the user and presents them with posts that it thinks will interest them.. More than half of boys aged 11-14 have engaged with influencers from the manosphere.¹ A whopping 79% of boys have encountered misogynisticStrong and deeply ingrained prejudice against women.  or violent content.²

As sexist attitudes among young men increase, girls and young women can expect to experience abuse. A recent survey by Girlguiding found that 81% of girls have experienced threatening or upsetting behaviour online, up by 16% from 2018.³

It is a form of indoctrinationRepeating an idea to someone until they accept it without challenging it. . According to Vodafone's research, 10% of boys can encounter harmful content within just 60 seconds of being online.

What is to be done? There is always regulation. Under a new UK law, social media giants could be fined as much as 10% of their global turnover if they fail to tackle online misogyny.⁴

But many think it is a matter of providing boys with positive role models. "Manosphere" influencers such as Andrew Tate, they say, have caused the problem. Boys need somebody else to look up to.

Can positive role models turn the tide?

Yes: Andrew Tate has done untold damage to young boys' perceptions both of themselves and of their female peers. The only thing that can remedy this is an equivalent role model spreading positive views.

No: We need to stop making individuals into idols. Everybody is fallibleCapable of making mistakes., and aspiring to be like somebody else can be dangerous. Instead, we should provide comprehensive equality classes and better regulate our young people's activity online.

Or... Negative role models, which explain why we feel victimised, are always going to be more effective than positive role models, who try to explain how we can be better. It is an unfortunate fact of life.