Rising concerns about poor adolescent mental health have often focused on girls and self-harm, yet growing evidence highlights the negative impact on boys-particularly those who feel alienated and turn to online spaces for socialization. This carries the risk of exposure to extremist content, as seen in toxic subcultures like the incel movement, and dramatized in the recent Netflix series Adolescence (2025). Declining face-to-face socialization and weakened parental support further compound vulnerabilities. Addressing this crisis requires multi-level interventions, including digital literacy education, stronger online safety regulations, and community-based mental health support. Urgent policy action and further research are needed to mitigate the harmful effects of online radicalization on youth.
McNicholas et al. (2026) studied this question.