Author: Eilidh Hynes

In the aftermath of the German national elections, there was a startling revelation that one quarter of men, aged 18 to 24, voted for the far-right Alternative for Germany Party (AfD), making it the most popular party among this demographic. What was seen in Germany is no anomaly but in fact part of a larger trend across many western nations, in the 2024 UK General Election 12% of men under 24 voted Reform compared to 6% of women. This shift in political behaviour among Gen Z men is a cause for growing concern. However, it is crucial to note that it is not an isolated issue but a symptom of deeper social, cultural, and economic anxieties. In order to make impactful solutions to combat this phenomenon, there must be an understanding of why young men are particularly vulnerable to far-right radicalisation.

Economic and educational changes

Men across Europe are falling behind women when it comes to education, a recent survey shows that 49% of women (25-34) in the EU have a degree in comparison to 38% of men. This education gap can fuel feelings of inadequacy and frustration among young men. As women surpass men in education some men may feel that traditional gender roles and social power that come with being a man are under threat. More so, women are increasingly in positions of power, leading to what many political psychologists term a ‘status threat’, where individuals – in this case young men – respond to perceived social decline by clinging on to hierarchical ideologies. These men who view their masculinity as under threat due to the social progression of women become vulnerable to far right exploitation, which often frames feminism as an attack on traditionalism and masculinity.

Radicalisation and the ‘Manosphere’

In recent years there has been growing literature on the manosphere and its direct correlation with far-right ideology. The manosphere is a collection of online communities (such as Incels and Men’s Rights Activists) who interact across various social media platforms that promote misogynistic and hateful ideas of women. Chatrooms on social media are a breeding ground for the rise in hateful speech towards women, the Reddit forum r/TheRedPill spreads the idea that things have gone wrong in society for men and reinforces the idea that feminism has punished masculinity. Psychologically, online environments are a powerful tool in exploiting the alienation that many young men feel. Chatrooms create a sense of belonging and community which can expose young men and make them more susceptible to extremist ideologies that fester within these digital communities.

Ideologies that the manosphere promotes have been able to foster so quickly due to dangerous echo chambers that are created by algorithm. Social media platforms are run by algorithms which curate content based on what users have been interacting with, these algorithms can often lead users down rabbit holes, especially on TikTok’s ‘For You’ page (FYP). One study conducted by Monash University shows that engagement with popular manosphere influencer Andrew Tate can be a gateway to far right ideology, including fascist and neo-Nazi beliefs. This underscores that while the manosphere is not inherently far-right, due to algorithmic curation it can be a gateway into extremist indoctrination. Young men watching self-improvement videos on Andrew Tate’s page can be gradually exposed to more extremist videos. Psychologically, the manosphere and far-right groups harness vulnerable young men’s feelings of status loss and victimhood to reinforce traditional and misogynistic worldviews.

What can be done?

It is essential that the rise of far-right sentiment among young men is addressed in order to prevent the spread and limit further societal impact. Firstly, it is important not to ostracise these young men. Often their concerns are valid, the issue is that they have misdirected these anxieties towards scapegoats such as women and immigrants. One potential suggestion could be government supported community programmes similar to that of the ‘‘Top Blokes Foundation’ in Australia that provides social education programmes for young men and encourages open and honest dialogue around what it means to be a man.

Young men also need positive role models. The right has Andrew Tate, Jordan Peterson, and many more manosphere influencers that are appealing to young men as they address the frustration which young men face. Whereas the left lacks this, evidence suggests that young men identify individuals from the entertainment and sports industries as role models and therefore a potential initiative is to feature prominent male role models in campaigns surrounding healthy masculinity. One example of a healthy role model being Hasan Piker a popular political streamer who mixes pop culture with leftist commentary, through his humour and traditionally masculine personality he has reached many disillusioned young men.

Crucially, there must be change in government and corporation policy. Big Tech companies must be required to publish transparency reports that detail how their algorithms recommend political or ideological content. There has to be effective algorithm regulation, a reconstruction of how platforms recommend media. More so, US Senator Brian Schatz has put forward the proposition that would ban social media companies from recommending content using algorithms to users under the age of 17. In implementing these regulations, the spread of misinformation and the protentional for young people to enter extremist echo chambers will falter as they are protected from algorithms.

Conclusion

In all, the rise of far-right ideology in young men is not an isolated phenomenon but a symptom of social, cultural, and economic anxieties. The manosphere and algorithms has proved a dangerous combination as these vulnerable young men are increasingly susceptible to echo-chambers which reinforce misogyny and the reactionary politics of the far right who feed off the anxieties of young men. It is essential to address these issues going forward by encouraging open dialogue rather than shutting them down, offering positive role models, and the regulation of social media platforms. This is not just about countering far-right ideology but also about creating a more understanding society where young men are not drawn to far right movements in response to their own anxieties.