The Evolution of the Manosphere Across the Web (2001.07600v5)

Abstract: In this paper, we present a large-scale characterization of the Manosphere, a conglomerate of Web-based misogynist movements roughly focused on "men's issues," which has seen significant growth over the past years. We do so by gathering and analyzing 28.8M posts from 6 forums and 51 subreddits. Overall, we paint a comprehensive picture of the evolution of the Manosphere on the Web, showing the links between its different communities over the years. We find that milder and older communities, such as Pick Up Artists and Men's Rights Activists, are giving way to more extremist ones like Incels and Men Going Their Own Way, with a substantial migration of active users. Moreover, our analysis suggests that these newer communities are more toxic and misogynistic than the former.

An Analytical Overview of "The Evolution of the Manosphere Across the Web"

The academic paper "The Evolution of the Manosphere Across the Web," investigates the growth and transformation of the Manosphere, a cluster of web-based communities focused on men's issues, often characterized by extreme misogynistic ideologies. This paper, leveraging a dataset comprising 28.8 million posts from six forums and 51 subreddits, provides a temporal and cross-platform analysis of these communities, examining their user base migration, evolution in activity, and trends in language use over time.

Key Findings and Contributions

1. Evolution in Popularity and Activity Levels: The paper delineates the shifting prominence of different Manospheric communities. Older communities like Men's Rights Activists (MRAs) and Pick Up Artists (PUAs) have seen a decline in activity, whereas newer communities such as Incels and Men Going Their Own Way (MGTOW) are experiencing significant growth. These newer groups demonstrate higher activity and user engagement, signaling a shift to more extreme subcommunities.
2. User Base Migration: The authors investigate user migration across different Manospheric communities on Reddit, revealing significant overlap and migratory patterns. Notably, there is a remarkable migration from older communities (such as MRAs) to newer, more radical ones, pointing to a potential escalation pathway in the adoption of more extreme ideologies. This observation is particularly pronounced in the trajectory from MRAs and PUAs to TRP and MGTOW groups, suggesting interconnectedness rather than isolated growth of these communities.
3. Increased Toxicity and Misogyny: The paper employs both the Perspective API and a misogyny lexicon to quantify toxicity and misogynistic language. The findings indicate that the more recent and prominent communities (Incels, MGTOW, and TRP) exhibit significantly higher levels of toxicity than their older counterparts. This increase in toxic and misogynistic content aligns with the increased activity and user base within these groups.

Implications for Future Research and Policy

The paper provides an empirical basis for understanding the dynamics of online radical communities and their potential trajectories. The migration patterns and overlap between distinct groups within the Manosphere could serve as case studies for examining the pathways leading to online radicalization. This highlights the importance of longitudinal and cross-platform studies in comprehensively understanding such ecosystems.

From a policy perspective, the findings underscore the challenges of moderating online spaces. While measures like subreddit bans may reduce toxicity levels temporarily, as exemplified by the spike in toxicity when Incel forums transitioned from Reddit to standalone platforms, the research suggests that user communities may simply migrate and potentially become more toxic as a result. This calls for nuanced moderation strategies that consider long-term behavioral patterns and community migrations.

Conclusion

The paper "The Evolution of the Manosphere Across the Web" offers a significant contribution to the paper of harmful online communities by providing a rich, data-driven analysis of their evolution. It establishes the importance of historical context and user migration in understanding the sustainability and growth of radical online movements. Moreover, it raises important questions about the interplay between online community structure and the proliferation of extreme ideologies, serving as an invaluable resource for both researchers and policymakers tackling online hate and radicalization. Future inquiries could build on these findings to better apprehend the social mechanisms underpinning the Manosphere and its broader societal impact.