The Manosphere is a growing problem. These 'Sex-Ed for Guys' videos may be the solution.

USA Today

28-04-2025

The Manosphere is a growing problem. These 'Sex-Ed for Guys' videos may be the solution.
Setting boundaries with your partner? Backflips? Florida Gulf Coast's 2013 March Madness run?
'That's what's up,' exclaim Colby College freshmen Mitch Humphrey and Jack Gatjanis in a video that's racked up more than 3 million views.
It's one of dozens that have gone viral on the account Sex Ed for Guys, where Colby College students tackle concepts like masculinity and consent with humor and candid discussion. The account provides an alternative option to what's being circulated online by creators in the manosphere, a digital collection of websites, videos and social media that promote male supremacy and advocate for traditional gender roles.
So what's the main message these Colby College kids are hoping to get across? That sex education and masculinity doesn't have to be hard to talk about.
'Being told as a man to kind of just shove it down and not deal with it, that's a lot of pressure,' says Gatjanis, who plays on the men's basketball team at Colby with Humphrey. 'As guys, it's not weird to check on your friends.'
More: These young men were sucked into the manosphere. Here's how they found a way out.
Meeting Gen-Z men where they're at
The page features light-hearted skits on sexual health, mental health and relationships. Colby College Junior Chris Maichin says the videos have resonated with viewers because the account creators mirror their target audience. Many of the videos feature young men who wouldn't look out of place at a frat party or on a basketball court.
'Athletes who could be joking around with their buddies about doing something to a girl can see this on their TikTok and be like, 'Oh, wait, those guys look exactly like me,'' Maichin says.
The account took off in April of 2024, after a 'respecting women workout' video — which featured reps of 'got you flowers,' 'tell me about your day' and 'close the pay gap' — gained more than 11 million views.
Account hopes to combat misogynistic online content
Creators like Andrew Tate provide a pipeline for men seeking advice about romantic rejection, physical self-esteem and economic insecurity to fall into radicalism and misogyny.
The combination of technology and the natural insecurities that arise during teenage years creates a 'perfect storm' for innocuous sports and health spaces to tune young men into radical content, according to Gary Barker, the president of Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice, an organization that advocates for healthy manhood.
'They're going there with kind of innocent intentions, but without somebody else supporting them, that innocent intention can become a follower who drops their critical thinking,' Barker says.
The account was started as part of Colby College Professor Adam Howard's research on elite all-boys schools. Howard says he's concerned about 'overt' misogyny that 'overwhelmingly' positions men as victims and leans on rigid, traditional forms of masculinity, and says the influence has caused young men to be less resilient as they face challenges. He hopes it will help young men build agency to navigate the messages they see online.
Maichin says he knows peers who don't share Tate's views on women, but were drawn to his content because of its controversial and dramatic nature. But repeating Tate's views, even in a joking way, 'reinforces that self-fulfilling prophecy' of how young men see themselves.
'It's just that constant reinforcement of 'No, you know what? There's a different way,' Maichin says. 'You could still be a strong, rough and rugged guy, while being able to show your emotions.'
More: Netflix's 'Adolescence,' toxic masculinity and what these emoji really mean
Making conversations about sex-ed more accessible
One of the main topics on the account is consent. Howard says he wants teens and young adults to know that consent goes beyond just saying yes, and should be discussed with a comprehensive view of sexual agency.
'We decided to focus the TikTok on sex-ed and not just the act of sex, but a comprehensive sex education about human development, relationships, personal skills, sexual behaviors, sexual health, society and culture and what it means to be a man,' Howard says.
A study Howard conducted of recent alumni from 41 different elite all-boys schools found that only two offered any form of sex education. In both cases, the instruction was outsourced from individuals or organizations who delivered short-term programming, and was not a permanent feature of the school's curriculum.
'If you're not teaching boys about sex-ed, then who do they go to? They go to their peers, and their peers don't always give them the correct information,' Howard says, using an example of the falsehood oft-repeated by teenagers that two condoms is safer than one.
The students featured on the viral account, who are research assistants of Howard's, are developing a curriculum around sex-ed that they translate into these bite-size videos. More than 30 students have been involved with the account since its launch in 2022.
Moving forward, the creators say they want to include more of a focus on men's mental health. Maichin, who credits therapy with improving his headspace, says he wants more men his age to know that talking about emotions is important even when you aren't struggling.
'By doing that, you're not going to take away any part of your masculinity. If anything, it makes you an even better man,' Maichin says.
Rachel Hale's role covering Youth Mental Health at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Pivotal Ventures and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input. Reach her at [e-mail] and @rachelleighhale on X.