I keep seeing posts mentioning this phenomenon more and more often.

For instance:

More and more men are being sucked into parts of the internet that circulate misogynist content, leaving their families to deal with the wreckage

‘Andrew Tate phenomena’ surges in schools - with boys refusing to talk to female teacher

Like, why? Why now? Why even? I really wish I had a time machine where I could go to the future and ask them what the general reasons were for this social development. But I feel like I’m looking for the specific thorn on a cactus that popped my balloon.

  • rosco385@lemm.eeEnglish
    57·
    4 days ago

    From around 2022 until just recently YouTube Shorts was heavily pushing Tate on me (an almost 50 year old man).

    No matter how many times I disliked and/or blocked the poster, the YouTube algorithm just kept throwing more Tate at me. I don’t know what I did to make YouTube think I’d be interested in that clown.

    On the plus side, it made me a lot more aware of what’s going on, hence my efforts to get Google out of my life. I can spot someone trying to manipulate me, but I have young sons who might not.

    • seeigel@feddit.orgEnglish
      3·
      4 days ago

      This needs much more attention. I had the same impression, especially also about Tate. Why can google push topics without the general public feeling the threat for democracy? Who decides which topics are pushed and what is their agenda?

      • rosco385@lemm.eeEnglish
        2·
        4 days ago

        Google and every other tech company say they keep their algorithms secret for commercial purposes, but that’s a bit convenient isn’t it? I certainly don’t trust any capitalist to be responsible with that much unchecked power.