“Offer Boys Something Better”: What a New Lancet Paper Means for Families

If you have a son, grandson, nephew or young man in your church, this week’s biggest conversation in health and culture is one you will want to know about.

On October 29 and 30, news outlets across Europe reported on a new paper in the medical journal The Lancet about the “manosphere.” That is the loose name for online communities, influencers and videos built around ideas about masculinity, and they often blame women for the problems men face. The authors argue it should be treated as a public health problem, much like we treat tobacco ads aimed at children.

That may sound heavy. But the most important line in the paper is full of hope, and it is something every family can act on.

What the experts said

The paper was written by Professors Sarah Hawkes and Kent Buse, co-founders of the think tank Global 50/50. According to Global 50/50, it is a Viewpoint published alongside The Lancet‘s first-ever series on men’s health.

Here are the main points, as reported by Euronews, RTÉ and Global 50/50:

• It is a business, not a fringe. The authors say outrage and grievance bring in clicks and money, so the system rewards the most extreme content. “This is a business model, not a fringe,” Buse said.
• Real harms. The paper links these spaces to loneliness, poor mental health, body image struggles, boys not asking for help, and attitudes that make violence against women and girls more accepted.
• Boys are not the enemy. “Boys and men are not the problem,” Buse said. The authors point instead to the conditions that make the content appealing: loneliness, money worries, uncertain futures and boys drifting away from school.
• Deleting posts is not enough. The authors call for better mental health support, school programmes on emotional skills and healthy relationships, and messages that do not treat boys as toxic.

Professor Hawkes explained the pull clearly. These spaces, she said, offer boys “belonging, identity and an explanation for why life feels hard.”

Then she said the line that matters most: “We need to offer boys something better, not just tell them what to avoid.”

Why this is good news for families

Most of the paper’s recommendations are aimed at governments, schools and health services. But notice what the authors say boys are really looking for: belonging, identity and a reason to keep going when life is hard.

Those are things a loving home and a healthy church family have always been able to offer. You do not need to be a tech expert to give a young man a place where he is known, needed and loved.

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”
– Proverbs 27:17 (KJV)

Five simple ways to “offer something better”

These are not rules from the report. They are practical ideas inspired by its message, for parents, grandparents, mentors and youth leaders.

1. Ask before you lecture. Try, “Who do you like watching online, and why?” Listen all the way through. A calm question often opens a door that a warning slams shut.
2. Give him a real place to belong. A team, a youth group, a job, a workshop, a choir, a scout troop. Belonging online is easier to resist when he already belongs somewhere in real life.
3. Connect him with good men. A grandfather, coach, pastor or neighbour who will spend regular time with him. Side-by-side activities like fishing, fixing a bike or cooking a meal often lead to the best talks.
4. Talk about how the feed works. Explain that some content is designed to make people angry because anger keeps them watching. When a boy understands he is being sold something, he can choose not to buy it.
5. Make it safe to struggle. Tell him often that asking for help is a sign of strength. If he seems withdrawn, hopeless or very isolated, reach out to his doctor, a school counsellor or a trusted pastor. Every child is different, so professional advice matters.

A word for moms and sisters

This conversation is not about men against women. The paper is clear that the harms reach both. When boys are surrounded by love, respect and purpose, everyone in the family is safer and happier.

The hope in it all

It is easy to feel helpless about what our children see on their screens. But this week, some of the world’s leading health experts reached a conclusion that families of faith can embrace: boys need something better to say yes to.

We have something better. We have tables to sit around, stories to share, hands to work with, and a Father in heaven who calls every young man by name and has a purpose for his life. No algorithm can offer that.

So this weekend, maybe put the phones down, invite that boy in your life to help with something, and tell him you are proud of him. Small moments add up. Through every storm, we rise together.

Who was the man who helped shape you when you were young, and what did he do that made the difference?

Sources: Euronews, “Manosphere’s impact on boys and men calls for public health action, report warns” (Oct 30, 2026); RTÉ News, “Manosphere must be treated as public health risk – report” (Oct 30, 2026); Global 50/50, “Lancet paper: ‘Don’t blame boys for the manosphere’, say experts” (Oct 29, 2026); KJV Proverbs 27:17