Labour MPs Demand Ofcom Action to Shield Men and Boys from Manosphere Influencers
In a significant move, more than 60 Labour MPs have formally written to Ofcom chief executive Melanie Dawes, urging the regulator to implement specific protections for men and boys against harmful online influencers, particularly those associated with the "manosphere." This call highlights concerns over exposure to gambling, sextortion, and violent pornography, with MPs arguing that current measures under the Online Safety Act, while focused on women and girls, must also address the unique risks faced by males.
Specific Harms Targeting Men and Boys Online
The MPs' letter emphasizes that men and boys are at a disproportionate risk of specific online harms, including far-right political radicalization, cryptocurrency scams, and violent pornography propagated by popular creators. According to data cited, 53% of boys aged 11 to 17 encounter gambling advertisements online weekly, compared to 31% of girls, while 91% of sextortion victims are male, based on reports from the Gambling Commission and the Internet Watch Foundation.
Alistair Strathern, MP for Hitchin and co-chair of the Labour group for men and boys, referenced the Louis Theroux documentary Inside the Manosphere on Netflix as a stark reminder of how the internet can prey on young males. He stated, "This is another reminder of a particular way some of the worst of the internet can prey on young men and boys," underscoring the need for targeted regulatory action.
Broader Implications for Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls
Strathern clarified that the push for protections is not about seeking equity for its own sake but is integral to addressing violence against women and girls. He explained, "Violence against women and girls could not be tackled if the specific harms faced by men and boys were not also addressed, as they are another aspect of the same problems." He added that these online harms not only affect men and boys but also impact the women and girls in their lives, leading to broader societal losses.
Nick Isles, director of the Centre for Policy Research on Men and Boys, echoed these sentiments, noting that manosphere influencers exploit young men by "peddling lies, falsehoods, and hate." He called for stronger enforcement of existing laws against hate speech, potential new legislation, and tax measures to confiscate earnings from harmful activities, emphasizing, "It is these young boys and men that we need to do more to protect."
Ofcom's Response and Regulatory Challenges
In response, an Ofcom spokesperson affirmed that protections under the Online Safety Act are designed to benefit all individuals experiencing online abuse. They noted, "Our codes require services to protect them from being exposed to pornographic, hateful, and abusive content," and highlighted the use of educational and preventive approaches to reduce online abuse. However, Strathern urged Ofcom to "step up" and demonstrate seriousness in addressing gendered online harms, pointing to a perceived gap in regulatory action.
The letter to Dawes argues that while men and boys are exposed to harmful content like misinformation and misogyny at rates similar to women and girls, the content targeted at males differs, necessitating tailored strategies from online platforms. This includes understanding and mitigating risks such as radicalization and financial scams, which are increasingly prevalent in male-focused online spaces.
As the debate over online safety intensifies, this initiative by Labour MPs underscores a growing recognition of the need for comprehensive, gender-inclusive approaches to digital regulation, aiming to safeguard all users from the evolving threats of the internet.
