The federal government has announced it will fund a three-year trial project tackling harmful messages of toxic masculinity on social media.
The healthy masculinities trial project will receive $3.5 million to run both face-to-face and online presentations at schools, sporting clubs and other community organisations to teach school-aged boys about respectful relationships not just with their peers, but also with themselves.
Starting with boys as young as five years old, the program aims to counteract dangerous gender stereotypes and messages of toxic masculinity circulated by online influencers like Andrew Tate.
The funding is part of the $11.9 million First Action Plan Priorities Fund under the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-32. The government hopes the three-year trial program will foster healthy relationships, contributing to its goal to end violence against women in the next decade.
The Minister for Social Service Amanda Rishworth said the project is a significant step forward in the nation’s plan to end family and domestic violence.
“Research shows there are strong links between harmful forms of masculinity and the perpetration of violence against women,” she said.
“Educating boys about healthy masculinity and providing them with positive role models are important steps to ending cycles of violence.
“Fostering respect in young men is a prerequisite to creating a safer future for our next generation.”
The grand round for the trial is set to open in early 2024, available to organisations and specialists in the field.
“As violence against women continues to plague Australian communities, we must take important steps to address violent behaviour before it starts,” Minister Rishworth said.
“From extensive consultation, we know that fostering respect in young men is a prerequisite to creating a safer future for our next generation.”
The Department of Social Services report 25 per cent of teenage boys are influenced by social media personalities who spread harmful gender stereotypes, encourage toxic masculinity and condone violence against women.
A survey from January 2023 found one third of teenage boys are inspired by self-described misogynist Andrew Tate. The internet sensation has been banned from Facebook, Instagram and TikTok for his sexist and dangerous messaging.
Although he was also removed from X, the ban was later lifted. He now has more than eight million followers on the platform.
Social media platforms cornered
Social media platforms have been under public scrutiny for its harmful impacts on young people.
Yesterday, more than 40 states in the United States commenced a lawsuit against social media giant Meta, arguing its products are designed to be deliberately addictive and are fuelling the youth mental health crisis.
The lawsuit alleges Meta has deceived the public about the harms of Facebook and Instagram, which the New York Attorney General Letitia James said “exploit and manipulate” children.
“Kids and teenagers are suffering from record levels of poor mental health and social media companies like Meta are to blame,” James said.
“Meta has profited from children’s pain by intentionally designing its platforms with manipulative features that make children addicted to their platforms while lowering their self-esteem.”
The attorney generals moving forward with the case claim the “dopamine-manipulating” design of social media platforms under Meta have poisoned the mental health of an entire generation, in particular the features to “like” posts and endlessly scroll.
States including Arizona, New York, West Virginia and more hope the legal action will have Meta’s designed features considered unlawful as they ask the courts to force the social media giant to undertake drastic changes to its platforms.