Convening experts in Westminster to take on the manosphere

PRESS RELEASE FROM ALISTAIR STRATHERN MP

TUESDAY 14^th APRIL 2026

Alistair Strathern, Labour MP for the Hitchin constituency, convened MPs, ministers and leading campaigners on tackling the manosphere to discuss how the Government can do more to protect young men and boys growing up in Britain today.

The event, “Tackling the Manosphere”, set amidst the Government’s consultation on social media reform, discussed how to not only make online spaces safer for boys and young men, but how we can provide young men direction, mentorship and support to succeed in Britain today.

Panellists include Sarah Sternberg of Movember, Georgina Lamming of Hope Not Hate, Penny East, Chief Executive at the Fawcett Society and poet influencer Sam Browne. It was chaired by Strathern and Sarah Smith MP as cochairs of the Labour Group for Men and Boys.

The event’s topic was pertinent with growing scrutiny of online “manosphere” content following Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere, which exposed how commercially driven creators target young men with messages about masculinity and success, and prompted 60 MPs to write to Ofcom demanding better guidance to keep men and boys safe online. 

New polling was also launched at the event showing more than 7 in 10 Britons believe young men are struggling with pressure to “be a man” and achieve financial security. The polling conducted by More in Common for Movember and Dad Shift, found,

• 73% believe men and boys are not doing well in dealing with pressure to “be a man”  

• 71% believe young men are struggling to achieve financial security  

• This reflects wider concern about the wellbeing of men and boys, with 47% of Britons 

saying it is worse than a decade ago. 

The event was put on by the Labour Group for Men and Boys. Its aim is to build and promote a positive, modern version of masculinity across society. 

Alistair Strathern MP, Co-Chair of the Labour Group for Men and Boys said: 

“Boys and young men growing up in Britain deserve better role models than the addictive and often extreme content peddled to them by opaque algorithms and the worst of the internet.

“This research shows men are facing real social and financial pressures – and we know influencers and big tech companies are all too willing to take advantage of young men when they’re at their most vulnerable. 

“From this productive and fascinating panel event, it is clear we need much more action. Ofcom must go further in using its full powers under the Online Safety Act to protect children from the most harmful content. But it is critical that as policymakers we play our role and make sure better role models are available to boys offline, through support for parents, schools and the NHS in tackling the men’s mental health crisis.”