In a powerful new documentary for BBC Three, film-maker James Blake delivers a terrifying and intimate look into the world of the manosphere, the online network of misogynist influencers and their followers.
From Personal Pain to Public Exploration
James Blake, the 32-year-old broadcaster from Belfast, approaches the subject from a place of personal experience. He reveals his own brief but troubling journey into the manosphere following the painful breakup of a five-year relationship he believed would lead to marriage. Scrolling through his old posts during the film, he expresses mortification, stating, "I was hurting, and this content gave it a voice." His temporary immersion gives him a unique empathy and understanding as he interviews young men for whom this digital world has become a more permanent refuge.
The Young Recruits of a Toxic Ideology
Blake's focus is not on the infamous influencers themselves, but on the vulnerable young men they recruit. The documentary introduces viewers to several followers, whose stories are marked by loneliness and confusion.
Sixteen-year-old Sam has been involved since he was 13. He is a paying subscriber to an influencer he credits with changing his life. His attempt to emulate this online success led to severe bullying at school after he posted his first TikTok video. He now confesses, "I don't have any friends in real life any more," finding his entire social world online.
Shane, a 22-year-old criminology graduate, turned to the 'red pill' ideology after his own relationship ended. This philosophy encourages men to reject societal norms, particularly around respecting women, and focus solely on self-improvement in terms of physique and wealth. "If you don't get too invested [in women], you can avoid all the heartbreak and stuff," he explains. Yet, he struggles with his feelings for a new girlfriend, conflicting with the red pill mantra that 'nice guys get nowhere'.
Jack, aged 27, adopted this lifestyle during the pandemic and dreams of becoming an online guru himself, paying £650 a month for coaching. He is also on a "semen retention journey," claiming that controlling one's sex drive and avoiding masturbation allows a man to control his mind and conserve his 'masculine energy'.
A Tender Look at a Terrifying Problem
The documentary is suffused with a sense of heartbreaking loneliness. The joy Sam exhibits when finally meeting his online friends in person is particularly poignant. Blake, through his shared sex, age, and experience, elicits strikingly honest and elaborate answers from his subjects.
The film makes it clear that these young men are not evil, but are instead adrift and vulnerable to predatory online figures. They are being exploited in ways that make them a potential threat to both their own wellbeing and the safety of others. Men of the Manosphere is ultimately a thoughtful, tender, and truly terrifying hour of television that avoids sensationalism to explore the human cost of this digital subculture.
Men of the Manosphere aired on BBC Three and is now available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
