A Netflix Series That Reflects a Growing Crisis

The Netflix series Adolescence (2025) has ignited a crucial conversation about modern masculinity, online radicalisation, and the growing influence of the manosphere on young men. Through its portrayal of Jamie Miller, a 13-year-old who is radicalised by incel ideology and ultimately murders his female classmate, the show presents a harrowing exploration of male rage, social media influence, and the failures of intervention.

This blog post examines the real-world parallels between Adolescence (2025) and the manosphere, mainly how figures like Andrew Tate, Fresh & Fit, and Rollo Tomassi exploit young men’s insecurities. We will analyse the psychological, social, and relational impact of these ideologies, explore real-life cases of manosphere radicalisation, and discuss healthier alternatives for masculinity.

Jamie Miller’s Story: A Reflection of Modern Radicalisation

The character of Jamie Miller represents a growing phenomenon: young men absorbing toxic masculinity through social media, developing resentment, and acting on their anger.

How Jamie Became Radicalised

Jamie’s descent into violence mirrors real-life pathways to online radicalisation :

✔ Lack of Self-Esteem: Jamie felt unattractive, inadequate, and isolated.

✔ Perceived Bullying: He was publicly humiliated when his crush rejected him and called him an “incel.”

✔ Exposure to Online Incel Content: The show explicitly mentions Jamie engaging with misogynistic forums and influencers who reinforced his victim mentality.

✔ Emotional Suppression: Instead of processing rejection, Jamie internalised rage and a need for dominance.

The Murder of Katie Leonard

Katie’s rejection and social media ridicule pushed Jamie over the edge. He saw violence as a way to reclaim power, a theme heavily promoted in manosphere spaces.

Many school teachers in the UK report that students as young as 11-12 years old repeat Andrew Tate’s misogynistic rhetoric, leading to increased hostility toward female classmates and teachers.

The Manosphere’s Influence: Why Young Men Are Drawn In

The manosphere is a loosely connected online community network that discusses masculinity, dating, self-improvement, and gender roles. Figures like Andrew Tate, Fresh & Fit, and Rollo Tomassi position themselves as role models for young men disillusioned with modern relationships and gender dynamics.

The Psychological Appeal

Many young men turn to the manosphere because it offers structure, control, and a sense of identity in a world where traditional gender roles are shifting. They may feel:

✔ Rejected in dating – Believing they are not “good enough” to attract women.

✔ Frustrated with societal expectations – Feeling like modern masculinity is under attack.

✔ Lack of male role models – Searching for father figures and guidance.

✔ Victimised by feminism – Developing resentment toward women for perceived injustices.

Social Media and Algorithmic Influence

Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Twitter/X amplify manosphere content through algorithmic recommendation loops, exposing young men to increasingly radical views.

The Plymouth shooting (2021) was carried out by Jake Davison, a self-identified incel who was radicalised online. His belief in male victimhood and resentment toward women directly influenced his violent actions.

Davison, a 22-year-old from Plymouth, was deeply immersed in incel culture and frequently expressed misogynistic views on online forums. He adopted the “black pill” ideology, which teaches that men who are not conventionally attractive or dominant are doomed to failure in relationships. On August 12, 2021, Davison carried out a mass shooting, killing his mother and four other people, including a three-year-old child, before taking his own life.

His social media activity revealed a deep frustration with women and a belief that men like him were unfairly marginalised. He often blamed his Lack of romantic success on feminism and modern gender dynamics, echoing the rhetoric found in manosphere spaces. The case sparked renewed discussions on the link between online misogyny, radicalisation, and real-world violence, leading UK authorities to classify incel-related attacks as a form of extremist terrorism.

Another devastating case is the murder of Elianne Andam (2023) by Hassan Sentamu, a teenager who was known for previous assaults on young girls before ultimately taking her life. Reports indicate that Sentamu had exhibited misogynistic behaviours and a history of violence toward women, raising concerns about early warning signs that were ignored. His case highlights the real-world consequences of unchecked toxic masculinity and how deeply ingrained misogynistic beliefs can escalate into deadly violence.

The Harmful Messages of the Manosphere

While manosphere influencers claim to promote self-improvement, their core messages distort relationships, encourage misogyny and foster isolation.

Weaponised Self-Improvement

Figures like Andrew Tate and Fresh & Fit teach men that self-improvement is only valuable if it gives them power over women:

❌ “Become rich so women have no choice but to submit.”

❌ “Emotions make you weak—never be vulnerable with a woman.”

❌ “Monogamy is a trap; high-status men should control multiple women.”

Instead of encouraging genuine self-growth, they frame success as a tool for dominance rather than fulfilment.

However, this type of weaponised self-improvement is not limited to men in the manosphere. There is a growing trend of women who engage in similar rhetoric, using self-improvement as a means to degrade other women and reinforce patriarchal ideas.

Figures like Hannah Pearl Davis, aka JustPearlyThings, or Pearl, actively participate in manosphere spaces, often arguing against women’s rights and reinforcing narratives that suggest women should remain subservient to men. Pearl is one of the most vocal women in the manosphere, actively arguing against gender equality, claiming that women should not vote, should remain financially dependent on men, and that modern women have unrealistic expectations in relationships. Her rhetoric mirrors the same toxic ideas found in the manosphere. Still, it is even more insidious because it comes from a woman, making it harder to dismiss as simple misogyny. Some young people might conclude this is true if a woman says this.

These female content creators weaponise self-improvement by:

❌ Pitting women against each other – Suggesting that only “traditional, submissive” women are valuable, while modern, independent women are “doomed to fail.”

❌ Reinforcing misogynistic talking points – Blaming women for high divorce rates, claiming feminism has “ruined” relationships, and suggesting that women should not pursue careers or independence.

❌ Validating male supremacist ideologies – Promoting the idea that women’s worth is determined solely by their youth, beauty, and ability to serve men.

This co-option of self-improvement rhetoric by both men and women in these spaces distorts the genuine pursuit of personal growth. Instead of fostering confidence, self-awareness, and resilience, it turns self-improvement into a tool for hierarchy, control, and exclusion.

The Demonisation of Women

Trigger Warning: Spoilers for Episode 3 of Adolescence

Episode 3 of Adolescence is arguably one of the most harrowing pieces of British television in recent years. It delves deep into the radicalisation of young men through online misogynistic spaces, exposing how these ideologies distort their perceptions of women and relationships.

The episode centres around Jamie’s psychological evaluation of Briony, a child psychologist played by Erin Doherty. Throughout their tense and unsettling conversations, Jamie’s casual dehumanisation of women is chilling. One moment, in particular, highlights this:

“She’s not my type. She’s flat, no offence.”

This remark is especially disturbing because it reveals how deeply Jamie has internalised the objectification of women—even as he sits in a room with Briony, he is assessing her body rather than engaging with her as a person. His perception of women is entirely transactional, reducing them to physical attributes.

Jamie’s Distorted Perception of Masculinity and Women

Jamie is not just a “troubled” child. Adolescence clarifies that he is highly intelligent, well-regarded by his teachers, and comes from a typical family. His misogynistic beliefs were not an innate part of his personality—they were learned through online radicalisation.

Some of the most unsettling dialogue exchanges include:

Jamie: “I’m ugly.”

Briony: (Pauses)

Jamie: “Wait, so you aren’t gonna,tell me I’m not ugly?”

This moment exposes Jamie’s deep-seated insecurities and his need for external validation. It also reveals how manosphere ideology preys on vulnerable young men, convincing them that their worth is tied entirely to their physical attractiveness and social dominance.

Jamie: “I’m ashamed.”

Briony: (Pauses)

Jamie: “Aren’t you supposed to say I have nothing to be ashamed of?”

This interaction is unsettling because Jamie expects a specific, rehearsed response. He has learned to manipulate conversations, testing Briony’s reactions and looking for an angle that benefits him.

Jamie: “Don’t you like me just a little bit?”

This final line is perhaps the most disturbing. Jamie wants control over Briony’s perception of him—just as he wanted control over Katie’s. When she rejected him, his worldview, shaped by misogynistic ideologies, told him that violence was an acceptable response to rejection.

How DOES This REFLECT Real-World Manosphere Ideology

Incel communities and red-pill influencers often teach young men that women “owe” them attention, sex, and validation. They frame rejection as a humiliation that must be avenged. This mindset has led to real-world attacks, such as the Plymouth shooting (2021) and the Toronto van attack (2018), where perpetrators explicitly cited their resentment toward women as motivation.

Briony’s interactions with Jamie mirror what psychologists and teachers are seeing in real-life cases of young men influenced by online radicalisation. They are not just angry—they feel entitled to power over women. And when that power is denied, they lash out.

Why Episode 3 Matters:

This episode starkly highlights the dangers of unchecked manosphere ideology. Jamie is not a “monster” in the traditional sense—he is a product of an online ecosystem that teaches boys that masculinity is about dominance and women are adversaries.

Adolescence forces us to confront this uncomfortable truth and consider what needs to change to prevent more stories like Jamie’s from becoming real-life tragedies. Many manosphere figures blame feminism for men’s struggles and spread misogynistic stereotypes, such as:

❌ Women are hypergamous and only date rich, powerful men.

❌ Marriage and relationships are traps that benefit women at men’s expense.

❌ Modern women are entitled, unfaithful, and undateable.

Teachers and youth workers report that teenage boys influenced by manosphere content often mock female peers, resist female authority figures, and adopt hostile attitudes toward women.

The Psychological and Social Impact on Young Men

Exposure to manosphere ideology doesn’t just shape opinions—it changes behaviour, damages relationships, and worsens mental health.

Increased Anxiety, Depression, and Isolation

Many young men already struggling with confidence turn to the manosphere seeking solutions—but instead, they:

❌ Develop victim mentalities – Believing society is rigged against them.

❌ Suppress emotions – Leading to depression, loneliness, and anger issues.

❌ Experience more excellent isolation – Rejecting friendships and relationships based on distrust.

Studies show that men engaged with manosphere content report higher levels of loneliness, relationship dissatisfaction, and anxiety than those who pursue balanced self-improvement.

Damaged Relationships with Women and Peers

Men who fully adopt manosphere ideology struggle with:

❌ Forming genuine relationships due to deep-seated distrust of women.

❌ Emotional intimacy, leading to controlling or avoidant behaviours.

❌ Healthy male friendships, as they view other men as competition.

In the UK, Prevent anti-extremism programs have seen a rise in cases of schoolboys espousing Andrew Tate–style misogyny, leading to concerns about future radicalisation.

A Better Model for Masculinity

The manosphere thrives because young men lack healthy guidance on masculinity, self-improvement, and relationships. Instead of rejecting masculinity altogether or forcing men into rigid, outdated roles, we must provide a model that integrates strength, self-mastery, and emotional depth—one that fosters confidence, connection, and purpose rather than anger, resentment, and isolation.

A New Model for Masculinity: Strength in Balance

Rather than relying on external role models or outdated stereotypes of dominance and control, masculinity should be defined by self-mastery, emotional intelligence, resilience, and purpose. This model of masculinity embraces strength through emotional depth, leadership through empowerment, and self-worth through contribution rather than validation.

It is not about seeking dominance over others or proving one’s masculinity—it is about understanding oneself, forging meaningful relationships, and creating a life built on integrity and purpose.