National

'Covert' misogyny shaping young people's views on women

Jan 30, 2026

a man looking at a computer screen — Social media algorithms can negatively influence young boys' attitudes on manhood, an expert warns. -AAP Image

Consent educators and anti-violence advocates are trying to tackle covert misogynistic attitudes online that encourage harmful attitudes among young men towards women.

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The release of the landmark Adolescent Man Box report in late 2025 highlighted the pressure young men feel to conform to traditional gender norms, and the link between holding traditional gender beliefs and the likelihood of committing sexual violence.

The report surveyed 1400 teenagers of all genders from across Australia and mapped the results against particular "rules", determined as ideas such as boys should be strong, confident and tough at all times, not show fear or emotion, and not do things considered "girly".

While most young people were rejecting these pressures, a small but significant number of boys personally endorsed these beliefs and were more likely to get into physical fights, sexually harass and use drugs and alcohol.

Healthy masculinity expert Noah Bloch sees first hand how young boys and men are responding to ideas about what it means to be a man and the negative influence social media algorithms can have.

As a Consent Labs educator, Mr Bloch says much of the research on masculinity is reflected in the attitudes of the boys who take part in their workshops, which are run in high schools.

"In workshops, you don't often hear overtly misogynistic language but definitely language that has underlying misogynistic tones," Mr Bloch told AAP.

"For example, you'll hear young boys say they don't agree with everything Andrew Tate says but that he says it how it is.

"This allows for extremist views to not be held to the account that it should be and that's what we are attempting to challenge."

But changing misogynistic attitudes becomes much more difficult when they are not overt, particularly online.

"Social media can mainstream harmful stereotypes and in some senses it legitimises it," Mr Bloch said.

Ongoing consent education in schools and universities has been found to address the influences and issues that lead to gendered violence.

But Mr Bloch said the responsibility also lay with parents, educators, politicians and young people to call out negative behaviour and attitudes.

"One thing that needs to be focused on is a whole-of-community approach to primary prevention," he said.

"Bolstering positive male role models, particularly those on social media, is going to be one of the most effective ways to counter harmful information."

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