The Andrew Tate Phenomenon:
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Examining the Influence of Social Media’s Manosphere on Adolescent Males’ Perceptions of Women and Girls and to What Extent Can Public Concern Be Understood Through the Lens of Moral Panic
By Rosemarie McVeigh,
UWE Bristol (University of the West of England).
This dissertation examines the influence of social media influencer Andrew Tate and the wider manosphere on adolescent males’ perceptions of women and girls. It critically explores the extent to which public concern surrounding his prominence can be understood through the lens of moral panic. Growing awareness of Tate’s misogynistic online persona has generated widespread social anxiety, particularly within educational and safeguarding contexts, prompting debate about online harm, masculinity, and youth vulnerability.
Adopting a secondary mixed‑methods research design, the study synthesises quantitative data on adolescent social media use with qualitative analysis of existing academic literature, including discourse analysis, focus groups, interview‑based studies, and algorithmic research. A thematic analysis was undertaken to identify recurring patterns relating to misogyny, identity formation, peer dynamics, and platform influence, while moral panic theory was applied analytically within the discussion.
Findings indicate that while Andrew Tate’s visibility among adolescent boys is extensive, engagement with his content is selective and frequently ambivalent. Many boys express critical or negative views; however, a consistent minority of boys demonstrate alignment with elements of Tate’s narratives, particularly those associated with masculinity, work ethic, and success. Evidence suggests that misogynistic attitudes are increasingly normalised within adolescent peer cultures, reinforced through humour, influencer imitation, and algorithmic amplification. Educators and scholars collectively report observable behavioural impacts within school environments, indicating that online discourse has tangible offline consequences.
When situated within moral panic theory, the findings suggest that public concern displays certain panic‑like characteristics, particularly media amplification and institutional urgency, but does not constitute disproportionate reaction given evidence of harm. The research concludes that focusing solely on Tate, risks obscuring wider structural drivers, including platform design and adolescent vulnerability, and highlights the need for early educational intervention, critical digital literacy, and greater accountability for social media platforms.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21402317