Key points

Certain male-coded spaces seem to reward dominance, punishing vulnerability as weakness.

Online disinhibition and trolling can amplify contempt and mute repair.

Masculinity norms plus algorithms could nudge some boys toward anti-empathy.

For many, online life is not just a backdrop to their lives; it becomes the social axis of their lives, and in many cases, it replaces real-life interaction. This is dangerous enough for adults, but it becomes incredibly precarious for young people whose sense of social belonging and identity are tenuous at best. Social inclusion theories suggest that a group’s shared values serve as a blueprint for belonging. In some male-coded corners of the internet, boys and young men are learning that worth is measured by dominance, certainty, and ins

See Full Page