I, like many others, have been reading about the musician d4vd, the passing of Celeste Rivas, and the very undisclosed nature of the case surrounding her death. If you are not aware of this case, the body of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas was found in a Tesla registered to musician David Burke, otherwise known as d4vd online. Fans and others alike found out that they were connected almost immediately. Between matching tattoos, songs with her name, songs being released on her birthday, and many screenshots of proof, d4vd clearly had a relationship with her. Even if he is not responsible for her murder, he was involved in some way.
While reading about this case, I was heartbroken for her-but I was also very angry. Because, like always, her death is only popularized due to the famous man tied up in it. It was very common to see comments such as “d4vd would never do that,” “she could’ve lied about her age,” or “maybe it wasn’t the same Celeste.” Little concern was shown towards the fact that a young, innocent girl was clearly murdered in some way. The complete disregard to her from the majority of what I have seen online has made me realize something: Women truly cannot exist in an online environment. There will always be at least one person blaming the woman. There is no situation without any comments, criticism, or judgment.
This is not a new phenomenon by any means. Women have been ridiculed and mistreated since the beginning of time. However, I feel that the internet has made it increase to a harrowing degree.
In the past few years, researchers have coined the term “manosphere” to describe the existence of certain male-centered spaces online. While these spaces sound good in theory due to their message of uplifting men, they often put down women in the process, sometimes in violent and spiteful ways. These environments are often advertised through podcasts, short-form content on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and online forums. Often presented in a charismatic, inspirational way, it can be easy to draw in younger men who are unaware of the nature of some of their values. For example, Andrew Tate, an internet personality who grew to be viral for his extremist sexist values, is also one of the most well-known creators in online male spaces. Tate has received multiple legal charges and threats for crimes involving trafficking and assault, among other acts. This led to him frequently being kicked off of social media platforms-but despite that, he still continues to have a fanbase.
I interpret this as an issue rooted in male insecurity. There are a multitude of reasons to create spaces for men online-statistics have shown that male struggles are sometimes diminished due to stereotypes regarding men not showing signs of emotion or weakness. However, rather than using these spaces to uplift men, they put down women in the process, often blaming them for their problems. They see inclusivity towards women as a personal attack, and put down feminism due to its open allowance of freedom for women. This is a lose-lose situation for everyone. Vulnerable young men are taken advantage of by these spaces and having their mindsets changed. Women are seen with even less value than before. They are hateful spaces that have no real benefit for anyone, other than those who enjoy the company for their own egotistical gains.
How do people get here? Well, social media is often known for its extremes. Due to the nature of algorithms, it is easier than ever to go down extremist rabbit holes. Influencers in the “manosphere” can seem like idols if you are young and naive. And while this does not apply to all men, we have seen the influence it has on the younger generation. In an interview for PBS, journalist and political analyst Laura Barrón-López touched on the subject of politically charged misogyny, stating that “in just a 24-hour period after Election Day, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue tracked a 4600 percent increase in mentions of the terms, ‘Your body, my choice’ and ‘Get back in the kitchen’ on the social media platform X.” Cynthia Miller-Idriss, the interviewee, mentioned an incident from a girl who was only 10 years old being told “your body, my choice” at her elementary school by a classmate.
As previously stated, this gender-based violence and discrimination has existed for a very long time. However, I find it hard to deny that the internet has played a significant role in creating an even worse battle for gender equality. Even when not surrounding men’s personal lives, women continue to be made fun of. Popular trends and subcultures centered around women’s enjoyment, for example the 2020 VSCO girl trend, are constantly made fun of. Even things as simple as women’s slang or behaviors can be made fun of online. When you are faced with this in large amounts, it is easy to start to believe it is OK to do. Being online allows you to do and say almost everything without any real repercussions. When misogynists have their online behavior supported, it also spills over into real life, where they often end up mistreating the women in their life due to the validation they receive online from the “manosphere”.
Many of us have been trying to create a safer, kinder world for women. Unfortunately,
the empowerment of women cannot exist without the arguments and criticisms from men, which is something that will likely not change for a very long time.
However, there are ways to make an impact in online spaces when faced with misogyny and sexism. Banning and reporting accounts for their actions is a commonly used method online to take down hateful words. Some influencers will even respond to the comments directly by calling them out in videos or pinning their comment to the top of the section so they can receive criticism as well. And while it is not always healthy to fight hate with more hate, in an algorithmic space, it can be effective when used wisely. Additionally, there are online forums providing safe, healthy conversations for men-for example, Reddit’s r/exredpill and r/malementalhealth.
While the internet and social media can be beneficial tools, it is extremely easy for them to get toxic fast. I feel that in order to lessen this issue, social media groups should spend more time popularizing safe spaces and emphasizing their accessibility. It can be difficult, but many groups of men and women alike are able to shift out of these toxic mindsets when presented with a different alternative. We may not be able to fully vanquish misogyny online, but by harboring the correct knowledge and spreading educational resources, these platforms can ultimately be used for good.
