Title: Understanding Misogyny, Extremism, and Social Support for Men Online

Date: 07/16/2025   

Time: 1:30PM - 3:30PM 

Location: TSRB 222 and Teams

Ciabhan Connelly

Ph.D. Student in Human-Centered Computing 

School of Interactive Computing 

Georgia Institute of Technology 

Committee 

Amy Bruckman (Advisor) - School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Institute of  Technology

Eric Gilbert (Advisor) - School of Information, University of Michigan

Betsy DiSalvo - School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Institute of  Technology

Munmun De Choudhury - School of Interactive Computing, Georgia Institute of  Technology

Cynthia Miller-Idriss  - School of Public Affairs and School of Education, American University

Abstract 

Some men in today's society are experiencing a crisis of mental health and identity. In the most extreme cases, these men can be a danger to themselves or others. There is evidence to suggest that certain online communities are exacerbating the problem. However, online communities also have the capacity to provide vital social support to individuals struggling with similar issues. Using a combination of large scale quantitative analysis and interview research, the first two proposed and completed studies will provide a nuanced understanding of the online community /r/MensRights. The results from our completed studies indicate that this community is filling a genuine need in the lives of its members, but in the process socializing them to accept a misogynistic worldview and behavior. With this in mind, our proposed research concludes on design research around constructing a community that fills the emotional support needs in the lives of men vulnerable to ideologies like the one presented by Men’s Rights, while explicitly discouraging the toxic behavior and ideology found in this community.