White Ribbon Scrubs Harmful Algorithms With New National Campaign

(MENAFN- GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) “Algorithm Sickness” exposes how social media algorithms steer young men toward misogynistic content and offers tools to take back control

TORONTO,ON, Sept. 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As boys grow up, they look to the people, voices and ideas around them to help make sense of what it means to be a man. Increasingly, those influences are being shaped by social media algorithms that can lead young men down harmful and sometimes extreme online pathways.

Today, White Ribbon, the world's largest movement engaging men and boys in the prevention of gender-based violence, is launching Algorithm Sickness, a provocative new campaign designed to counter the misogynistic and harmful content young men can encounter online.

Gender-based violence and online hate are on the rise, fueled in part by social media algorithms that increasingly expose young men and boys to hateful content by exploiting their insecurities and deep desire for belonging. This disturbing pattern is what White Ribbon calls“algorithm sickness.”

Social platforms are designed to learn what keeps people engaged, continually serving up more of what captures their attention. For young men navigating identity and belonging, that can mean exposure to content that exploits insecurity, promotes dominance, and reinforces hateful, misogynistic attitudes. Recent White Ribbon research underscores the urgency: 80% of educators have witnessed misogynistic behaviours in classrooms, 71% of parents of boys are concerned about their children being exposed to hateful online content, 64% of Canadians are very concerned about online content promoting sexism and misogyny.

Algorithm Sickness is founded on the simple premise that every phone is a tool, but it can also be a gateway to misogyny and hate. Rather than simply warning young people about the dangers of social media, the campaign challenges the algorithm on its own terms, encouraging young people to actively reshape their feeds by engaging with healthier content and giving them practical tools to recognize, block and counter harmful influences. Across social, digital out-of-home and film, the campaign calls on men, and all of us, to actively“treat” our algorithm sickness and replace it with positive content built on strength, empathy, integrity and healthy relationships.

White Ribbon's Algorithm Sickness campaign uses a doctor's office metaphor with prescription cards and“algorithm health tips” to make this complex issue tangible and urgent, while offering practical tools to disrupt the cycle. The campaign features men in communities who model healthier masculinity and demonstrate what a positive, conscious relationship with social algorithms truly looks like not just talking about it but showing it.

Creators and influencers will bring #AlgorithmSickness into their own worlds, demonstrating practical ways to build a feed that nurtures healthy attitudes and behaviours - from blocking harmful content and using“Not Interested” to recognizing rage-bait and other engagement tactics designed to provoke rather than inform. Whether through sports, gaming, music, or other interests, creators will show audiences what healthier algorithm habits can look like in practice.

“Too often, the conversation about men and boys focuses on what's wrong rather than what's possible,” said Humberto Carolo, CEO of White Ribbon.“We want to change that. Men and boys can be a powerful force for care, respect and equality. They can build others up, challenge misogyny and help create relationships, communities, and workplaces where everyone can thrive. Countless men are already leading by example. We want their actions to inspire the next generation.”

The campaign aligned with research from Dr. Kaitlyn Regehr, Associate Professor at University College London and inaugural Global Fellow at the Schwartz Reisman Institute. Dr. Regehr is the author of Smartphone Nation and a leading authority on how algorithms shape young people's online lives.

“Boys and young men aren't searching for hateful content, social algorithms are designed to find it for them,” said Dr. Kaitlyn Regehr.“These algorithms aren't neutral; they amplify harmful voices and steer youth toward hateful messages. If our algorithms are sick, they infect us too. It's time to give young men the tools to take control and build digital lives rooted in care, respect, and equality.”

With“Algorithm Sickness,” White Ribbon is taking that mission into the places where young men are learning, connecting and forming their identities.

Because if someone is going to shape the algorithm, it should be us.

For more information about how algorithms work, their potential impact on the way people think and behave, practical tools for maintaining a healthier and safer social media environment and resources for parents and caregivers looking to talk to children about social media safety, please visit .

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About White Ribbon

White Ribbon is Canada's leading organization engaging men and boys to prevent gender-based violence, misogyny, and discrimination while promoting healthy masculinities and allyship.

White Ribbon was founded in 1991 in response to the 1989 murder of 14 women studying engineering at École Polytechnique de Montréal. Since then, one of its most enduring calls to action has encouraged men to wear a white ribbon as a pledge never to commit, condone, or remain silent about gender-based violence.

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