The Federal Government Launches a Three-Year Campaign Addressing Toxic Masculinity on Social Media

The federal government has announced the allocation of $3.5 million in funding for a three-year trial project aimed at addressing the harmful messages of toxic masculinity present on social media. This initiative, known as the Healthy Masculinities Trial Project, will employ a multi-faceted approach, incorporating both in-person and online presentations in schools, sports clubs, and community organizations.

The primary objective of this program is to educate school-aged boys about fostering respectful relationships, not only with their peers but also with themselves. Beginning with boys as young as five years old, the project aims to counter harmful gender stereotypes and messages associated with toxic masculinity, which are often perpetuated by online influencers.

This initiative falls under the First Action Plan Priorities Fund, a component of the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022–32. The federal government’s goal is to use this three-year trial program to promote healthy relationships, aligning with its broader mission to eliminate violence against women within the next decade.

The federal government’s commitment to tackling toxic masculinity also includes the global concern surrounding the impact of social media on the mental health of young people. Recently, more than 40 U.S. states initiated a lawsuit against social media giant Meta, alleging that its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, are intentionally designed to be addictive and contribute to a youth mental health crisis.

These legal actions are driven by concerns that Meta’s platforms influence children with dopamine-inducing features, such as “likes” and endless scrolling, leading to poor mental health and self-esteem issues among young users.

The states pursuing this lawsuit, including Arizona and New York, hope that the legal action will lead to significant changes in Meta’s platform design.

_{Repurposed from the article earlier published in womensagenda.com.au}