Report finds manosphere content reaches young men on TikTok
Monday 19th October 2026 on 06:15 in
Denmark
A new report says misogynistic content from the so-called manosphere is appearing in young Danish men’s everyday TikTok feeds. The findings were reported by DR and are based in part on TikTok data, tests using fake profiles and interviews with young people and professionals.
The report was produced by the Center for Digital Youth Care and commissioned by Denmark’s Ministry of Gender Equality and Ministry of Digitalisation. Researchers found it took an average of three minutes for fake profiles designed to resemble boys aged 16 to 19, with interests such as fitness and dating, to be shown manosphere content.
The content can demean women, argue for restricting their freedoms and promote particular ideals of masculinity. Sandra Halskov, a manosphere expert and one of the report’s researchers, said the material could lead some young men to question women’s rights and opportunities.
Professionals interviewed for the report described changes in some boys’ behaviour, including comments that men should rule and that girls need to be controlled. One school-community worker said an eighth-grade pupil interrupted a lesson and told his female teacher she should be dragged into the woods and raped.
Anders Thorsen, a teacher at Bagsværd Kostskole og Gymnasium, said openly misogynistic remarks in class had become more common than they were 10 years ago. He also said pupils’ concerns had become more focused on individual success and appearance.
Kenneth Reinicke, a researcher on men at Roskilde University, said he recognised the development described in the report, but cautioned against assuming that exposure necessarily changes young men’s attitudes or behaviour. Young people are not passive recipients of online content, he said.
Employment and Gender Equality Minister Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen called the findings deeply concerning. She said the issue was difficult for the Danish government to address alone and pointed to the need for European cooperation. She also said Denmark was pushing for an age limit so people would be older before encountering such content.
The report defines the manosphere as influencers and online communities that criticise gender equality and promote particular ideals of masculinity, often arguing that women’s freedoms should be rolled back.