this post was submitted on 21 May 2026
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21
We analysed the TikTok history of 142 men. Here’s what it taught us about the manosphere (theconversation.com)
submitted 3 days ago by arbilp3@aussie.zone to c/australia@aussie.zone
15 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Plenty of exploitation also happening of young men which has wide-ranging effects. This community seems to be mostly male (I'm guessing). Any opinions?

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[–] RegularJoe@lemmy.world 19 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

The manosphere doesn’t create these pressures – it finds genuine unmet needs and exploits them for profit and views. Often girls, women and other minority groups are at the receiving end of that harm, as well as the boys and men themselves.

Before TikTok/Internet, there was TV. Before TV was print media (newspapers, magazines).

Ad from 1932

Charles Atlas ad saying let me prove in 7 days that I can make you a new man!

This has been going on (for everyone) a lot longer than TikTok. That said, I don't think it's healthy. Also with print media, you saw it once or twice in a magazine; you didn't have an algorithm feeding you a stream of content either.

Edit: female ad, same era:

I learned from a beauty expert how to hold my husband - and why so many women fail. Palmolive.

[–] psud@aussie.zone 4 points 2 days ago

Even the Rocky Horror Picture Show from 1975 parodied the fitness ads "in just seven days, I can make you a man"

[–] shirro@aussie.zone 5 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Men use tiktok? I thought it was only pre-teen girls.

[–] psud@aussie.zone 3 points 2 days ago

A former friend of mine aged about 60 got into tiktok around the start of Israel's attacks on Palestine, and dropped all his friends for not being sufficiently fervent about the genocide

It sucks in anyone who wants a purely automatic video feed

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Zoomers are graduating from college now, but it might surprise you to find out why those men were on the young girl app

[–] ordnance_qf_17_pounder@reddthat.com 1 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Without reading, does it conclude that they are all massive wankers?

[–] arbilp3@aussie.zone 2 points 3 days ago

Whatever they are, they are having a negative effect on boys and young men. That's the issue.

[–] The_Che_Banana@beehaw.org 4 points 3 days ago

Technically: Wank Stains.

[–] TheHolm@aussie.zone -2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

So what is wrong with it?

[–] arbilp3@aussie.zone 1 points 3 days ago (2 children)

??? What's wrong with exploitation?

[–] hanrahan@piefed.social 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Our entire socio ecomic system is built on exploitation, seems beyond weird to pearl clutch over parts of it sans some holistic introspection.

[–] arbilp3@aussie.zone 1 points 2 days ago

I agree with you but it's scientific research in order to find out how this particular type of content affects people. We have to at least do what we can protect those who are vulnerable.

You can see how the big picture affects the particular but also how the particular affects the general. By changing and/or becoming more conscious of the particular we can become more alert to the wider world and make changes there too. Nothing is simple.

[–] TheHolm@aussie.zone -1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

How is this an exploitation? People just watch what they want to watch; it’s their choice and they don’t harm anyone.

[–] arbilp3@aussie.zone 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I don't know if you've read the article. Adults can watch "what they want to watch" but the problem is that these videos can attract boys and young adults who are still maturing and the videos can have negative impacts on their self image and their life in general.

[–] Hiro8811@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

This can happen with any demographic group, old people being fed propaganda and sitting in their echo chambers or girls being told their worth is only their body etc... The problem is the algorithm and the money inventive. Also this isn't only happening on tiktok but on all platforms.