Young Men, Misogyny, and Extremism: The New Study Shocking Australia

By Rob Stott - News

Updated: 25 August, 2026

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Readtime: 8 min

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Key Takeaways

• 34.8 per cent of Aussie teen boys hold misogynistic views, and 23.3 per cent of Gen Z males support resisting feminism with violence.
• Attitudes permissive of violence against women are the single strongest predictor of violent extremism across the political spectrum.
• Exposure to “manfluencer” content, pornography, and dating apps – not general social media use – fuels this radicalisation.

When we talk about issues like racism, sexism or homophobia, we have a tendency to assume the problem lies with older generations, blaming boomers for “outdated” views on modern social issues. But a new study from the University of Melbourne suggests it may actually be young Australian men who hold the most hostile views towards women and their role in society.

The study, titled Misogyny, Online Radicalisation, and Youth Extremism in Australia, spoke to 1122 young Australians aged between 13 and 17. The study also spoke to 2,307 Australian adults, and more than 500 Australian school teachers. It found that:

• 34.8 per cent of boys aged 13 to 17 hold misogynistic beliefs, compared to 14.1 per cent of adult women.
• 31.1 per cent of Gen Z males believe measures to give equal opportunities to women have gone too far.
• 23.3 per cent of Gen Z males agree that feminism is damaging to society and should be resisted with violence.
• Over 26 per cent of teenage boys agree with right-wing extremist attitudes and 27 per cent agree with white supremacist attitudes.
• Attitudes permissive of violence against women account for 34 to 59 per cent of the variance in predicting violent extremist attitudes.
• Engagement with male influencers predicts general misogyny and incel ideology far more than general social media use.

Study author Dr. Sara Meger from the University of Melbourne said the findings should be concerning for all Australians.

“These attitudes were far more prevalent among the young people surveyed, and of everything we measured, these hostile views were the single strongest predictor of support for violent extremism,” Dr. Meger said.

Manosphere Pipeline: How Social Media and Pornography Shape Young Men

The study found that it’s not the internet or social media as a whole that’s the problem. Instead, young men stumble into misogynistic content that begins with seemingly positive “manfluencer” fitness and wealth content, before trapping them in a ‘red pill’ moment, shifting their grievances towards women, and a society in general.

The findings are probably unsurprising for anyone who watched Louis Theroux’s Inside The Manosphere documentary on Netflix. Theroux’s doco highlighted the insidious ways social media can lure young men in with promises of fitness, wealth and self-improvement, before pulling them into a vortex of misogyny and extreme right-wing views.

Also contributing to young men’s increasingly negative attitudes towards women is easier access to (often violent) pornography. Among the study’s findings:

• 44.5 per cent of boys aged 13 to 17 report consuming online pornography, with 11 per cent viewing it at least once a day.
• 52.4 per cent of adult men report consuming online pornography, with 6 per cent viewing it at least once a day.
• Adolescent boys consume online pornography at nearly double the rate of adolescent girls, of whom 76.5 per cent report never engaging with it.

The study showed a link between porn consumption and permissive attitudes towards gendered violence, problematic beliefs around consent, and a generalised distrust and suspicion of women.

“Online dating and pornography consumption are the online behaviours most consistently linked with attitudes that normalise, minimise, and excuse violence against women,” the study says.

Chanel Contos, CEO of Teach Us Consent, said the findings highlighted the impact some corners of the internet are having on a generation of young people.

“This research reflects what we see through our work with young people,” Contos said.

“Our social media feeds and algorithms have become fertile ground for content that promotes violence against women and girls, and we’re seeing the consequences unfold in schools and communities across the country.”

Andrew Tate Effect: How Classrooms Became the Frontline for Misogyny

The study also found that holding misogynistic views was the single strongest predictor of an individual going on to hold extremist beliefs that extend well beyond beliefs about gender. The study found that hostile gender attitudes are not isolated to incels; they serve as a cross-cutting foundation for white supremacy, right-wing politics, religious extremism, and economic radicalism.

“Misogyny is not a peripheral or incidental feature of violent extremism in Australia, but a central, crosscutting predictor of extremist orientations across the full ideological spectrum,” the study said.

“Misogyny can be understood as a ‘training ground’ for extremist orientations. By legitimising domination and punitive control in intimate and social relationships, it fosters dispositions that are readily transferable to political contexts.”

The study suggests that young men’s hostile views of women and authority are developing at an early age, with teachers reporting explicit gender exclusions occurring in children as young as 6 or 7 years old, while “manosphere” rhetoric is being used frequently by children still in primary school.

Educators spoken to for the study reported widespread sexualised slurs, domestic role enforcement, and physical intimidation targeted at female staff and students, much of which stems from a desire to emulate social media figures like Andrew Tate, who promote an ‘alpha male’ image for young men.

“Students are funnelled into echo chambers, lured into extremist content through innocent avenues such as gaming and workout videos, then exposed to extreme misogyny,” one teacher said. “They then come to school and discuss the content… or parrot concerning sound bites in class.”

Domestic Violence in Australia, by the Numbers

• On average, one woman is killed every nine days by a current or former partner in Australia.
• One in four Australian women (27 per cent) has experienced intimate partner violence since the age of 15.
• Australian police respond to a domestic violence incident approximately every two minutes, totalling over 260,000 calls a year.
• The majority of mass violence perpetrators in Western countries have documented histories of domestic abuse or violent misogyny.

Reclaiming Healthy Masculinity: What Australian Men Can Do

The real-world stakes could not be higher: the study explicitly notes that perpetrators of recent Australian mass violence, including the Bondi Junction attacker, had active histories of pornography addiction and anti-woman grievance. Yet, as Man of Many’s Male Confidence Index demonstrates, the performative ‘alpha’ posture sold to young men as a solution is a complete illusion.

Earlier this year, the index found that 53 per cent of heavy social media users admit online creators shape their views on manhood, and a massive 78 per cent of Gen Z men recognise that these figures promote completely unrealistic expectations. The hyper-dominant, performative “alpha” posture does not build genuine self-worth. In fact, heavy social media consumption correlates directly with higher rates of body image insecurity and comparison anxiety among young men. The hyper-masculine script promises strength, but delivers isolation.

The study suggests that reclaiming healthy masculinity will take structural change. Young men are not born as ‘bad apples’. Instead, toxic misogynists are created by online structures and algorithms that funnel them into increasingly extremist view.

“Online communities validate men and boys’ grievances and offer an ‘outgroup’ to scapegoat and blame women. At the same time, a new ‘ingroup’ is being crafted, coalescing around misogyny,” study author Dr Meger claims.

Reclaiming healthy masculinity requires bridging the massive disconnect between what men think is expected of them and what actually builds human connection. The Male Confidence Index shows that while 29 per cent of men believe physical dominance defines masculinity, only 18 per cent of women agree – with 28 per cent of women valuing empathy and emotional presence instead. True confidence is not found in control, subjugation, or grievance. Real strength lies in adaptability, self-direction, and the courage to remain grounded without needing to put others down.

We cannot arrest or policy-regulate our way out of this issue. The antidote to toxic algorithms is not the elimination of male ambition, but the active presence of healthy male role models, such as older brothers, fathers, mentors, and peers. The responsibility falls on us to show the next generation that genuine strength does not fear equality, nor does it view respect as a zero-sum game. It is time to dismantle the reactionary pipeline and give young Australian men a vision of manhood worth striving for.

Support Services & Helplines

If you or someone you know is impacted by domestic, family, or sexual violence, support is available. You are not alone, and help is confidential and free.

• 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732): Australia’s national sexual assault, domestic, and family violence counselling service. Available 24/7 via phone or online chat at 1800respect.org.au.
• Lifeline (13 11 14): 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services.
• Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800): Free, confidential 24/7 phone and online counselling for young people aged 5 to 25.

For Men Seeking Help or Struggling with Behaviour

If you are a man struggling with anger, relationship conflict, or feeling overwhelmed by aggressive thoughts—or if you are concerned about your own behaviour toward a partner or family member—reaching out for support is a sign of strength, not weakness.

• Men’s Referral Service (1300 766 491): A confidential, non-judgemental telephone counselling service for men who want to manage their anger, stop using violence, or build healthier relationships. Visit ntv.org.au (No To Violence).
• MensLine Australia (1300 78 99 78): 24/7 telephone and online support service for men with emotional health, family, and relationship concerns. Visit mensline.org.au.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, please call 000.