Protect, guide, empower: Ending victim-blaming and dangerous patterns

What we are experiencing today with the “manosphere” among our youth should concern us all. It is not simply another social media trend, but a signal of something deeper that is missing in our society.

This goes beyond misogyny. It reflects young males growing up confused, searching for identity, direction, and a sense of belonging. Instead of guidance, they are finding anger. Instead of respect, they are being taught dominance. Instead of balance, they are fed division.

A more troubling reality is that much of this content is not actively sought out. It reaches them through algorithms, short‑form videos, and messaging that gradually reshapes how they think, how they speak, and how they see others.

In a society like ours, where certain attitudes have long existed beneath the surface, this influence does not remain online. It grows, it spreads, and over time becomes normalised. Honesty is required about where this is coming from.

These narratives do not emerge in a vacuum, but are shaped by a patriarchal society that continues to influence how young males understand power, emotion, and identity, often rewarding dominance while leaving little room for vulnerability or balance.

Clearly, this culture is producing dangerous offenders and enabling a damaging attitude of victim‑blaming, where victims are often judged more harshly than those who harm them. Victims deserve real protection, not bureaucracy. That is why I have called for reforms to make Malta’s sex offenders register more accessible so that parents, guardians, carers and other concerned citizens can legitimately seek information about someone who may pose a risk to children or vulnerable people without having to go through costly and lengthy court procedures.

Drawing on models such as the United Kingdom’s Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme, these measures are meant to prevent future harm, empower communities to act responsibly when they have reason to be concerned, and send a clear message that harmful behaviour will not be obscured or tolerated.

An uncomfortable truth must also be faced. These young males are not the problem. They are a reflection of what is lacking within society. A lack of positive role models. A lack of honest, nuanced conversations about what healthy masculinity looks like. A lack of spaces where young males can speak, question, and be heard without judgement.

Unlearning these deeply rooted mindsets is challenging. It requires time, consistency, and a willingness to question what has long been accepted as normal. Change, however, remains entirely possible when that effort is made. Failure to step in leaves space for others to take that role. The consequences of that are already visible.

This moment calls for listening, for guidance, and for responsibility. The issue extends beyond the internet. It speaks directly to the kind of future being shaped.

Our responsibility is clear: To ensure the next generation grows up with values that build rather than break, that respect rather than divide, and that bring people together rather than pull them apart.