The harm social media is causing young people is being explored in ‘Under the Influence’, a new series from the NZ Herald. 

The second episode, ‘Manosphere v Boy’, explores the network of online influencers pushing extreme, and often misogynistic, ideas about masculinity to boys and young men. 

The messaging sets unrealistic expectations around success, wealth, relationships, and dominance, often preying on insecurity and loneliness – offering simple messages and “self-improvement” tips that draw them deeper.  

Director and producer Nadia Maxwell told Kerre Woodham that one thing that isn’t paid enough attention to in this conversation is the cumulative effects.  

She says you might see a video you know has bad messaging, but young people are consuming hours' worth of content daily, and it doesn’t matter how smart you are or what your pre-existing beliefs are, all it takes is repetition. 

A key element of the manosphere playbook is the concept of what’s fair, or to be exact, what isn’t. 

Maxwell told Woodham that they’re essentially saying a certain group of people are to blame for the world being unfair, and then they sell them a solution – reclaiming tradition, power, and masculinity.  

LISTEN ABOVE