The “Manosphere” Unveiled as a Multibillion-Dollar Grievance Industry

Researchers from the digital-safety organization Reset Tech and the nonprofit Equimundo released a 153-page report titled *The Grift Economy: How Young Men Are Being Sold Fake Belonging and Fake Wealth Online*. The authors argue that the online ecosystem commonly labeled the “manosphere” functions less as an organic political movement and more as a pyramid-style industry. According to the report, algorithms steer young men into paid communities, unregulated supplement sales, cryptocurrency schemes, and high-ticket “coaching” programs. The authors describe masculinity itself as a curated commercial category that generates substantial revenue.

Wired Magazine

The analysis follows observations that young men have displayed heightened political extremism, misogynist rhetoric, and participation in risky crypto and gambling activities. In the 2024 U.S. presidential election, the male youth vote favored Donald Trump, driven in part by a GOP campaign emphasizing “meathead machismo.” Early in Trump’s second term, support among Gen Z men began to decline, suggesting that the political appeal has not mitigated underlying anger.

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The report maps the ecosystem as a “multibillion-dollar industry,” though it does not provide a precise revenue figure. It identifies three primary revenue streams: subscription-based “coaching” platforms, sales of unregulated health supplements, and promotion of speculative cryptocurrency investments. These streams are linked by algorithmic recommendation systems that funnel users toward increasingly costly products, creating a feedback loop of financial extraction.

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The authors contend that the commercial framing of masculinity contributes to loneliness, overlooked depression symptoms, and a sense of false belonging among young men. By positioning “masculinity” as a purchasable identity, the industry may exacerbate mental-health challenges while profiting from the vulnerability of its target demographic.

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If the manosphere operates chiefly as a profit-driven network rather than a genuine sociopolitical movement, policy responses may need to shift from ideological counter-speech to consumer-protection measures. Understanding the financial incentives behind these online spaces could inform interventions aimed at reducing exploitation of young men’s insecurities.

Wired Magazine