What’s going on with our kids?

TWF was founded to improve the lives of women and girls in Hong Kong, and we care deeply about the psychosocial well-being of boys and men precisely because of this. It is not possible to create or benefit from a gender equal society without people of all genders co-owning this vision.

This is why we have been riveted by Adolescence, a Netflix series which has held the #1 position in 74 economies including Hong Kong. Taking place in the UK, the series revolves around the story of a 13-year-old boy who is accused of murdering a 13-year-old girl. What emerges is a complex web of online misogyny, gender-based violence and bullying that has caused alarm among parents, educators and policymakers alike to ask: what is going on with our kids?

The series draws our attention to the dangers of certain online spaces and interactions for children, which can often escape the attention and understanding of adults. The accused had exposure to the manosphere, an online ecosystem of websites, blogs, forums and influencers that can promote ideas of toxic masculinity, misogyny and harmful gender stereotypes. Social media platforms exacerbate the issue – researchers in separate studies in Ireland and Australia have both demonstrated how algorithms are encouraging young men to enter the manosphere through recommended content regardless of whether they are actively searching for it.

Consuming this content has been shown to influence a viewer’s ideology. A UK study showed that boys who watched influencers that promoted misogynistic content like Andrew Tate (who has been accused of multiple counts of rape) were more likely to normalise controlling behaviours in relationships like stalking and love bombing and were five times more likely to say that the use of physical violence is okay in relationships. A study interviewing teachers in Australia notes the significant rise of boys patronising and belittling female teachers and classmates, and increased references to influencers promoting misogynistic content in relation to this.

The girl who was murdered in Adolescence was the victim of gender-based violence – an all-too-common phenomenon. At the same time, the boy who killed her, while fully responsible for his actions, was also a victim of a patriarchal system that failed to provide him with broader definitions of masculinity, diverse avenues for self-worth and positive male role models.

While only a minority of boys will ever go to the extremes seen in Adolescence, we do know that there is increasing anxiety and resistance from younger generations of men about gender equality. A 2025 study on perceptions of gender equality across 30 countries showed GenZ men (teens to mid-twenties) had the most reservations about it: 60% feel they are being expected to do too much and 57% believe gender equality has gone so far as to discriminate against men. This is a clarion call for individuals and institutions to do far more to meaningfully engage with young men to address their anxieties and pressures, bust some of their myths and misconceptions about gender equality, and work to build a support network that reinforces healthy masculinities and gender relations.

So what does this all mean for Hong Kong?

Young men in Hong Kong are also at a crossroads. Our study on young men’s masculinities reveal over 75% of university-age men have conservative views towards gender roles and negative perceptions of changing gender relations. They also feel pressure to live up to their narrow idea of an ‘ideal man’ - wealthy with a flourishing career and is protector and provider for his family.

This is why we created our Young Allies Programme – to shift these harmful mindsets and behaviours by engaging young men in constructive conversations on privilege, allyship, stereotypes and masculinity, all under the guidance of Male Allies who serve as mentors. We have seen significant positive shifts in Young Allies awareness of gender inequalities and in their understanding and willingness to take action.

But there is much more work to be done by the whole of society to support boys and young men to embrace broader definitions of masculinity and understand the benefits gender equality has for them. Here are links to suggestions on how to help our boys:

• Parents can role model healthy behaviours, challenge gender norms, work to develop emotional intelligence, as well as help boys find safe ways of managing anger. They can also incorporate discussions around consent, sexual harassment or assault and in regular conversations on dating and life.

• Teachers can work to incorporate gender equal practices and behaviours in their classrooms, addressing and challenging any student responses that fail to align with these values.  They can also engage with the online and offline lives of students – emphasising critical thinking skills, life skills and digital literacy – while maintaining close touch with parents.

• More men can begin by reflecting on their own experiences with masculinity, privilege, biases, and allyship. From there, they can engage in public conversations as mentors and role models, speaking with boys and young men about the pressures they face, while sharing insights from their own journeys in embracing vulnerability and broader definitions of masculinity and success.