Keeping it Together: Diving into the 'manosphere,' and hello, it's Sam!

Hi Keeping it Together subscribers.

I'm Sam Woodward, the wellness audience fellow, and a new guide through the world of wellness reporting here at Paste BN. I'm a born and raised Midwesterner based in Minneapolis (Skol Vikes!). I'm passionate that wellness encompasses every part of our lives including everything from staying in-the-know about health news, self-improvement tips, and deep dives into how it effects us on every level. I am so excited to be joining Keeping it Together's team and getting to connect with you all every week.

I want to create an open dialogue, answer questions and share stories that YOU care about. Reach out to me anytime at swoodward@gannett.com, on X @woodyreports, and on Bluesky @woodyreports.

On a more serious note, this week, I've had the "manosphere" — online communities that promotes toxic masculinity and violent rhetoric against women — on my mind. The new Netflix mini-series "Adolescence" dives into the dangers of being radicalized by misogynistic online culture at such a young age, and teen boys are increasingly falling victim to these spaces.

Popular figures like Andrew Tate — a self-proclaimed "misogynist" whose been charged with rape and human trafficking — are skyrocketing in popularity and is making blaming romantic woes, physical insecurities, and economic hardships on women a norm for a dark corner of the internet.

It had me thinking about the role social media and powerful algorithms plays in this generation's views of the world and just how susceptible young kids are to adopt these radical beliefs.

Our youth mental health reporter fellow Rachel Hale did a deep dive into the manosphere, and she found the terrifying ways young men and boys get sucked in, and the hopeful news that there is a way out.

How to escape the manosphere

• Think critically about users and posters motives: Developing a filter online is crucial to not being radicalized by the things you see most. Sometimes, these manosphere creators who peddle misogynistic beliefs are making money off their posts, monetizing off shock factor and clicks.
• Seek out help from exit communities: It's easy to fall into an echo chamber online, and might feel impossible to leave a community that seems to be all over the internet (spoiler alert: blaming women for everything isn't normal). Going out of your way to join communities on and offline devoted to exiting toxic spaces is a great way to move forward and meet other people with shared experiences.
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle: The go-to advice for everything! Eat a balanced diet, get outside, exercise, and heck, even volunteer to channel your energy into doing something good for yourself and others.
• Get offline: Another bit of advice you'll find everywhere (because it's really important). Making meaningful connections outside the bounds of your phone can help ground you to reality, and having healthy, in-person relationships with women is key to transforming your mindset away from frustration and blame to ownership and confidence.

How do you approach hard conversations with your kids? Do you ask about their mental health? What's the best advice you've gotten? Send us your answers to swoodward@gannett.com, and we may share it in the next Keeping it Together newsletter.

👀 A few other things in the wellness world I'm keeping my eye on

• This 28-year-old decided it's his time to die. But first, he's having his "last supper" with 1000 strangers.
• HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is trying to find a cause of what he called the "autism epidemic." Some in the community and their families say he's got it all wrong.
• I know you've heard of free-range chickens, but how about free-range parenting?

Here's what I'm liking this week

Every week, I'll share with you my current faves. Movies, books, recipes. You name it. Here's this weeks.

• Working in news, I don't get much free time, especially not to dive into new series. So I'm on my fifth rewatch of "New Girl," (I know, five times might be too much).
• And I'm starting "The Princess Diarist," the late great Carrie Fischer's memoir.

Before I go, I'm contemplating if my phone is really that bad for me? Send me your thoughts and if you've ever taken a break from socials and how it affected you.! I might include your response in the next edition of Keeping it Together.

See you next week!