In the digital age, social media platforms are no longer simply places for sharing photos or staying in touch with friends. They have become significant forces in shaping public opinion and social interaction, often bringing with them serious negative consequences.
One of the most alarming phenomena on social media is misogyny — the hatred or contempt directed toward women. Online misogyny manifests in many forms: from sexist comments and harassment to threats of violence and coordinated campaigns of discreditation.
Among the greatest concerns is that online violence can rapidly escalate into physical violence.
Mollëkuqja analyzed two major studies on the concerns and impacts that social platforms have on girls and women, and on boys and men.
How does social media influence gender norms among adolescent boys?
Previous research has focused primarily on the impact of online gender inequality on girls and women.
However, the rise of misogynistic influencers such as Andrew Tate, and the growing attention to violence more broadly, have heightened concerns about the negative influence social media may have on boys and young men.
A study by ALIGN on social media use and gender norms among adolescent boys indicates that few studies have directly examined the impact of social media on gender norms or masculinity in adolescent boys, while existing research on the influence of social media on gender norms among boys and young men remains inconsistent, and findings cannot easily be generalized.
The findings suggest that the impact on adolescents depends on how they interact with social media and on the type of content they view or engage with.
"Adolescents' use of social media is both shaped by and, in turn, shapes the gender norms that exist within their families, peer groups, and wider networks. Some adolescents may be more susceptible to the influences of social media than others. The 'invisible layer' of social platforms — including how algorithms function, business models, and levels of regulation — has a significant, yet often underestimated, influence on the content adolescents are exposed to," the study states.
The report emphasizes that more research is needed, but that what is already known suggests the debate around social media's influence on gender norms and masculinity must be approached with care.
Rather than viewing social media solely as a risk, the report recommends focusing on specific, concrete risks while also acknowledging the positive potential that these platforms can hold in certain contexts.
The impact of social media on women and girls
A study by the Department of Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs of the European Parliament shows that within the European Union, social media use is slightly higher among women than men across all age groups.
The study finds that Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, WhatsApp, and Pinterest are more popular among women, while Twitter, LinkedIn, Reddit, Discord, Twitch, and Telegram are used more frequently by men.
The study notes that boys and men are more likely to engage in risky online behaviors, such as sexting, sharing violent content, online harassment, hacking, and cybercrime.
"Spending more time on social media is associated with an increase in depressive symptoms in both boys and girls, though the impact is greater among girls. Contributing factors include lack of quality sleep, online harassment, low self-esteem, and a negative body image," the study states.
The study shows that girls and women are more likely than boys and men to experience body image issues and eating disorders linked to social media use.
"Girls and women more frequently experience sexual and gender-based abuse online, including receiving unsolicited sexual images, requests for intimate photographs, and the non-consensual sharing of their images. Women politicians and journalists face higher levels of online gender-based and sexual abuse and harassment than their male counterparts," the study states.
Among its findings, the study notes that the normalization of misogyny and male supremacist ideologies among young people represents a serious and urgent threat to women and girls on social media.
"Girls also report that easy access to violent pornography is influencing the way boys understand sex and relationships," the report states.
Among its recommendations, the report calls for a revision of educational programs to ensure that both boys and girls receive comprehensive, evidence-based education on media literacy, digital consent, digital ethics, image-based sexual abuse, online gender-based violence, and gender norms.
More broadly, in the face of these challenges, experts recommend combining technological innovation with more effective regulation, media literacy initiatives, and gender equality policies — so that social media may serve as a tool for participation rather than a vehicle for violence.
