How digital misogyny exposes the fragility of democracy

At one point in Louis Theroux’s recent Netflix documentary Inside the Manosphere, influencer Justin Waller stands on a rooftop overlooking Miami and declares that “men build, invent, and maintain society.” The statement is striking not only for its obvious dismissal of women’s historical and ongoing contributions to society, but for what it reveals about a broader ideological shift taking place online. The manosphere is not only a cultural phenomenon, but a political one. In fact, it risks undermining the very values on which democratic societies depend on.

The “manosphere” describes a growing online community that “claims to address men’s struggles”, as defined by UN Women. Those struggles are quite wide-spread, ranging from topics like loneliness to dating, fatherhood, or fitness. “Red Pill” influencers advocate online in favour of male supremacy and traditional gender roles, opposing any feminist notions and spreading not only misogynistic perspectives, but also homophobic and antisemite views.

“We have asked women to become men” is what Waller says when talking to Theroux, which shows that the men in the manosphere count or even rely on traditional gender roles to offer guidance and reassure them in their position as men in society. Figuring who one is and what one’s place is in society can naturally be a challenge to anyone. Men in the manosphere, consciously or unconsciously, blame women for this struggle.

The values and views spread by “Red Pill” influencers are reflected in a broader discussion of the erosion of democratic values. The Swedish-based Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Institute, which measures the state of democracy worldwide, has just released its 2026 report. For the first time in 50 years, the role model of all liberal democracies– the US– has lost its status as a liberal democracy due to ongoing autocratisation. A liberal democracy does not only depend on genuine elections, checks and balances, and the rule of law, but also on the values that underpin and support those democratic institutions. Democratic values include individual rights, freedom of expression, and most importantly in this context: the right to be treated with respect and dignity, no matter the gender, sexuality, and religion. With the manosphere gaining more and more support and influence in the population, especially among young boys, equality seems to be under threat now more than ever.

In a world where people feel increasingly lonely and purposeless, it is natural to seek community in digital spaces. Young men especially stumble upon manosphere content when looking for fitness or dating tips, or a community that acknowledges that they feel isolated and offers direction, support, and encouragement. Mattie and Chris are two men in Theroux’ documentary that claim to have found words of encouragement in the manosphere: “Why am I waiting for someone to fix my life when I can fix my own life”. Now, there is nothing inherently wrong with this statement. In fact, it inspires a sense of optimism and direction for the future. It becomes problematic, however, when tied to the values the manosphere represents. A worldview grounded in disrespect for women, people of different sexualities, or those of diverse religious beliefs cannot offer a genuine sense of purpose or place in the world.

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