The Boys Are Not Alright
How the Manosphere Is Grooming a Generation —
and What We Can Do About It
Eric Miller
Let me be real, this one’s personal.
I have two young men in my family caught in the grip of the manosphere. One is stuck, no job, no direction, gaming all day in a basement. The other is employed but isolated, and worst of all, he’s been pulled into neo-Nazi ideology through so-called “red pill” content.
This didn’t come out of nowhere. The manosphere is an online ecosystem, YouTube, TikTok, Reddit, Discord, that’s grooming young men with a twisted message: women are the problem, masculinity is under attack, and the only answer is control, dominance, and blame.
It’s not fringe anymore. It’s mainstream. And it’s seductive, especially for young men feeling lost or left behind.
The pandemic accelerated everything. Isolation grew. Jobs disappeared. Screens became lifelines, and soon after, pipelines into extremism.
These influencers don’t care about truth. They care about attention. They package rage as wisdom and call it masculinity. And for many young men, it’s the only voice they feel is speaking to them.
So, what can we do?
Start with curiosity, not condemnation. Ask what content they’re consuming. Have the conversations, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Model real masculinity. Strength isn’t domination, it’s empathy, accountability, and knowing who you are.
Rebuild community. Young men need connection, in person. They need mentors, guides, and spaces where vulnerability isn’t weakness.
Repurpose the pain. Every young man has a story. If we can help them own it, instead of run from it, they can lead instead of lash out.
This is bigger than politics. It’s about protecting the emotional and spiritual health of a generation.
Don’t wait until it hits your family like it hit mine.
Start the conversation now.