How viral man-hating memes went too far

‘It has even become fashionable in some circles to speak about men in ways that would never be tolerated if directed at women,’ says a relationship coach - (Getty)

The internet has always hated women. Misogyny thrives in spaces where the propensity for anonymity is high and any kind of accountability is low. Now, though, it seems that the internet also hates men, particularly the ones who date women.

If you’re looking for evidence, just spend a few minutes in a single straight woman’s social media algorithm. One quick look at mine and I’m inundated with clips and memes that take #MenAreTrash to another, sharper-toothed, frontier. “I hate when energy drinks are marketed towards men,” reads one meme on Instagram. “What could they possibly need energy for? Telling lies?” On X (Twitter), a post states: “Getting your heart broken by a noncommittal man with a slutty mustache is like losing chess to a dog.” Another reads: “One cool thing about dating men in your twenties is that you get to experience motherhood.”