Building on over two decades of work with young men, Futures Without Violence and Equimundo are launching LinkUp Lab, an innovation hub testing digital strategies to reach young men online. We seek to turn the tide on harmful cultural influences that condone harm against women and proliferate anti-democratic content. We will advance strategies that offer young men alternative models for mental wellbeing and non-violent relationships, while also promoting positive influences that connect rather than divide.
At a time when young men aged 18 to 23 are showing the least optimism for their futures and the lowest levels of social connection, they are increasingly finding purpose online. 48% of young men ages 18 to 23 say their online lives are more interesting than their offline ones and 1 in 3 spent no time in person with someone outside their household in the prior week. Meanwhile, AI ‘aggro-rithms’ are serving young boys harmful content within 60 seconds of being online, and they increasingly drive young men towards anti-democratic, harmful content.
Like never before, there is an urgent need to come together and test new ideas that invite young men to find healthy connection, belonging, and purpose.
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