The rise of the aggro-rithm: can misogynistic content be stopped?

With toxic, sexist content flooding the phones and devices of many teenage boys, we ask experts what can be done to break the cycle

If you’ve had the misfortune of stumbling across misogynist videos from influencers online, you’ll be aware how toxic this content can be. But did you know that more than two-thirds of boys aged 11 to 14 have been exposed to this kind of harmful, damaging “manosphere” content? Or that 70% of teachers noticed a rise in sexist language being used in the classroom over the 12 months to February 2024?

This research was brought to life in a powerful short film earlier this year, called The Rise of the Aggro-rithm. It follows a boy’s gradual descent into misogynistic thinking – a journey that leaves him lonely and sad, with negative feelings towards his female teacher and even his own sister.