Navigating the Manosphere: Addressing Online Misogyny's Impact on Adolescent Male Mental Health
Tracks
Diamond Ballroom III: In-Person Only
| Thursday, June 5, 2025 |
| 2:05 PM - 2:25 PM |
Overview
Cameron Fraser, Inyourskin
Presenter
Mr Cameron Fraser
Senior Sexuality Educator
Inyourskin
Navigating the Manosphere: Addressing Online Misogyny's Impact on Adolescent Male Mental Health
Abstract
The "manosphere," a network of online communities that promote misogynistic ideologies, has emerged as a significant influence on adolescent males. These online communities not only shape perceptions of gender but also adversely impact young men’s mental health, contributing to increased anxiety, depression, and distorted views on relationships and masculinity.
This presentation explores the intersection of digital technologies and mental health by critically examining the manosphere’s effects on adolescent males. It highlights how exposure to online misogyny can lead to emotional isolation, poor peer relationships, and greater susceptibility to harmful behaviours. The presentation evaluates the efficacy of current mental health and educational interventions targeting these issues.
Key strategies discussed will include fostering digital literacy, promoting healthy masculinity, and equipping adolescents with critical thinking skills to navigate online spaces. Particular attention will be given to addressing emerging challenges such as the influence of prominent "manfluencers" and the proliferation of AI-generated content, including deepfake image-based abuse, which exacerbate the pressures and problems young people face.
The session aligns with the conference theme by advocating for a reimagined approach to adolescent male mental health—one that integrates comprehensive relationships and sexuality education, media literacy, and gender-specific strategies to counteract the harmful impacts of misogynistic online communities.
This presentation aims to provide mental health professionals, educators, and policymakers with actionable insights and frameworks to empower young men to build healthier relationships and resilience in a rapidly evolving online environment.
Three Key Learnings:
1. Understand how online misogyny and the manosphere negatively affect adolescent male mental health, contributing to anxiety, depression, and distorted views on gender and relationships.
2. Learn strategies to equip adolescent males with critical thinking and media literacy skills to navigate harmful online communities and build resilience against misogynistic influencers.
3. Raise awareness of resources that promote healthy masculinity and support adolescent males' mental well-being in the digital age.
This presentation explores the intersection of digital technologies and mental health by critically examining the manosphere’s effects on adolescent males. It highlights how exposure to online misogyny can lead to emotional isolation, poor peer relationships, and greater susceptibility to harmful behaviours. The presentation evaluates the efficacy of current mental health and educational interventions targeting these issues.
Key strategies discussed will include fostering digital literacy, promoting healthy masculinity, and equipping adolescents with critical thinking skills to navigate online spaces. Particular attention will be given to addressing emerging challenges such as the influence of prominent "manfluencers" and the proliferation of AI-generated content, including deepfake image-based abuse, which exacerbate the pressures and problems young people face.
The session aligns with the conference theme by advocating for a reimagined approach to adolescent male mental health—one that integrates comprehensive relationships and sexuality education, media literacy, and gender-specific strategies to counteract the harmful impacts of misogynistic online communities.
This presentation aims to provide mental health professionals, educators, and policymakers with actionable insights and frameworks to empower young men to build healthier relationships and resilience in a rapidly evolving online environment.
Three Key Learnings:
1. Understand how online misogyny and the manosphere negatively affect adolescent male mental health, contributing to anxiety, depression, and distorted views on gender and relationships.
2. Learn strategies to equip adolescent males with critical thinking and media literacy skills to navigate harmful online communities and build resilience against misogynistic influencers.
3. Raise awareness of resources that promote healthy masculinity and support adolescent males' mental well-being in the digital age.
Biography
Cameron Fraser, GradDipSxlgy, is a senior sexuality educator at inyourskin®. Cameron served as the Deputy Chair of the Society of Australian Sexologists from 2022 to 2024. He received his Graduate Diploma in Sexology from the School of Population Health, Curtin University. With expertise in the areas of positive masculinity and healthy male sexuality, Cameron has over 5000 hours of clinical experience as a counsellor.
