Is the manosphere growing in Kenya and Mexico?

The manosphere — a global network of online male influencers promoting hyper-masculine, often misogynistic views — is rapidly expanding beyond the West into countries like Kenya and Mexico, according to BBC journalist Jackie Wakefield. Her documentary investigates two dominant figures: Andrew Kibbe in Kenya and El Temach in Mexico, both of whom have millions of followers and present themselves as quasi-religious mentors. While their content initially appears to offer self-improvement and discipline, it increasingly promotes toxic beliefs — including the idea that women are inherently manipulative, that feminism is to blame for men’s struggles, and that rejection justifies physical violence. Wakefield reveals how social media algorithms amplify this divide, feeding men content that isolates them from women and reinforces harmful stereotypes. The impact is real: young men like Ryan and Julian report losing interest in relationships, friendships, and fun, while women face emotional abuse, dismissal, and erasure. The algorithm’s gendered content delivery — showing men car and gym content, women fashion and diet videos — deepens the digital and real-world gender split. Even when women engage with manosphere content, the algorithm resists recommending it, suggesting a systemic bias in how these ideologies spread.