History of Manosphere in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: April 1, 2026

The manosphere is a diverse online ecosystem of websites, forums, and blogs united by a shared belief that society is biased against men and influenced by misandrist feminism. Key groups within the manosphere include Men's Rights Activists (MRAs), incels, Men Going Their Own Way (MGTOW), pick-up artists (PUA), and fathers' rights groups. Despite some internal disagreements, they generally believe that traditional masculinity is under attack and that men are disadvantaged in areas like family law and dating. The term "taking the red pill" signifies embracing these ideas and rejecting mainstream narratives.

2009: Emergence of the Term "Manosphere"

In 2009, the term "manosphere," a play on "blogosphere," is believed to have first appeared on Blogspot. Later, Ian Ironwood popularized it by compiling blogs and forums in his book, The Manosphere: A New Hope For Masculinity. This term entered mainstream lexicon when it was used in stories about misogynistic violence and online harassment.

2014: GamerGate Controversy

By 2014, the manosphere was well-established by the time of the GamerGate controversy. Misogynistic language, including graphic rape threats against women, entered mainstream discourse, utilized by individuals not directly associated with any specific manosphere group.

2014: Isla Vista Killings and PUAHate Forum

In 2014, following the Isla Vista shooting, the killer Elliot Rodger was found to have been an active participant on the PUAHate forum, highlighting a link between the manosphere and real-world violence.

2014: Isla Vista Killings Media Coverage

In 2014, the manosphere received significant media coverage following the Isla Vista killings in California. This event highlighted the manosphere's potential role in radicalizing men and glorifying violence against women. This also included media attention to the GamerGate online harassment campaign against women in the video game industry.

2015: Umpqua Community College Shooting Media Coverage

In 2015, the manosphere received significant media coverage following the Umpqua Community College shooting in Oregon. This event contributed to concerns about the manosphere's association with misogyny and violence against women.

2017: /r/incels Banned on Reddit

In 2017, Reddit began to take steps to discourage more extreme manosphere subreddits, beginning with banning /r/incels. This marked a shift in how online platforms addressed manosphere content.

2018: /r/braincels Banned on Reddit

In 2018, Reddit continued its effort to curb extreme manosphere content by banning /r/braincels, a successor to /r/incels. This highlighted the ongoing challenge of managing manosphere communities online.

2018: SPLC Adds Male Supremacy to Hate Group List

In 2018, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) added male supremacy as a category they track on their list of hate groups, further recognizing the manosphere's connection to extremist ideologies.

2018: Toronto Van Attack Media Coverage

In 2018, the manosphere received significant media coverage following the Toronto van attack. The event further linked the manosphere to potential radicalization and the justification of violence against women.

2019: Hope not Hate Report on the Manosphere

In 2019, the British anti-extremism group Hope not Hate included the manosphere in its State of Hate report, highlighting its presence within extremist landscapes.

January 2020: Study Finds Spread of Misogynistic Speech

In January 2020, a study found that tactics employed by online influencers to promote "red pill" philosophies, such as using controversy and confrontational language, had spread misogynistic speech beyond fringe websites. This fueled widespread online hate campaigns and contributed to violence against women.

August 2021: /r/MGTOW Banned on Reddit

In August 2021, Reddit banned /r/MGTOW, further restricting manosphere communities on the platform. Other subreddits like /r/TheRedPill were "quarantined," indicating a stricter approach to moderating manosphere-related content.

2024: Manosphere Emboldened by Trump Victory

Following Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 United States presidential election, the Associated Press reported that an "emboldened" manosphere used Trump's win "to justify and amplify misogynistic derision and threats online." Phrases like "Your body, my choice" being used against women, along with the phrases "Get back in the kitchen" and "Repeal the 19th," gained traction online and offline.

2025: BBC Documentary: Men of the Manosphere

In 2025, the BBC documentary Men of the Manosphere follows James Blake as he enters the virtual world of the manosphere, examining its impact and reach.

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