Dutch survey finds sharp drop in teen tolerance of homosexuality, PM Jetten calls it 'shocking'
An HBSC school survey shows only 22% of Dutch boys aged 12-16 now view homosexuality positively, down from 40% in 2021, prompting alarm from officials and LGBT groups.
What to know
- Positive views of homosexuality among Dutch boys aged 12-16 nearly halved, from 40% in 2021 to 22% in 2026, per the HBSC school survey.
- Girls' acceptance also fell sharply, from 78% to 51%, in the same period.
- Researchers and the PM point to 'manosphere' social media content and politicians questioning sexual diversity as drivers.
- PM Rob Jetten says the cabinet will explore pressuring social media companies over harmful content reaching young people.
The dispute Whether the backlash is primarily driven by US-originated manosphere/social media culture or reflects a wider, homegrown European political shift. · positions read across 11 posts and comments
Manosphere content and social media algorithms are radicalizing young boys against LGBT people.
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“yeah, this is what social media is doing to the world. Fuck the manosphere and the algorithms that feed this garbage to young boys.”
No_Size9475 · Reddit ↗
This reflects a broader culture war and political shift across many countries, not just the US.
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“you suer it's USA and not just...*checks notes with how many EU countries are anti lgbtq* half of EU countries?”
Embarrassed-Wolf-609 · Reddit ↗
This is a natural cultural pendulum swing after a long period of progress, not a crisis.
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“Pendulum swings. The harder it swings forward, the harder it swings back. It’ll take a while to go forward again. Inevitably, some people will be left behind in their mindset.”
LookIWashedForSu · Reddit ↗
Rob Jetten Dutch Prime MinisterGonneke Stevens Professor of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Utrecht UniversityMarie Ricardo Director of COCCOC Dutch LGBTI rights organisation
How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage postscomments
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Online commenters blame manosphere algorithms and culture-war politics
Reddit commenters responding to the story largely attributed the drop to social media algorithms and 'manosphere' influencers, while others pointed to broader political and cultural trends across Europe and the US.
“In recent years sexual diversity has been increasingly questioned by leading figures in society, including politicians…”
— Gonneke Stevens, Professor, Utrecht University · source -
The HBSC poll found that just 22% of boys aged 12 to 16 had a positive view of homosexuality, compared to 40% the last time the survey was carried out in 2021. This is not a "single statistic" saying "Teenage boys thing being gay is weird", but shows a development. You can blame (dependent on your political view) failed immigration policies…
2 more of the top 3 · 11 posts in this stretch
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-social media algorithms -extreme alpha male content through media -patriarchy brainwashing -sometimes even internalized homophobia -uneducated: low attention span: can’t read even comic anymore
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just 22% of boys aged 12 to 16 had a positive view of homosexuality, compared to 40% the last time the survey was carried out in 2021. Damn, I had no idea it was THIS low. What has happened?
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background
PM Rob Jetten calls the figures 'shocking', eyes pressure on platforms — Prime Minister Rob Jetten, who is due to marry his male partner next year, told RTL Nieuws the cabinet would examine how to pressure social media companies over content harmful to young people.
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background
COC calls the findings a 'frightening development' — The Dutch LGBTI rights organisation COC responded to the survey results, with director Marie Ricardo stressing the importance of the younger generation for an inclusive society.
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background
Utrecht researcher links decline to 'manosphere' social media content — Professor Gonneke Stevens, who led the Dutch research team with the Trimbos institute, said the trend coincided with young people's growing exposure to aggressive, discriminatory manosphere content and questioning of sexual diversity by public figures.
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background
HBSC survey shows Dutch teen tolerance of homosexuality collapsing — The Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children poll found just 22% of Dutch boys aged 12-16 had a positive view of homosexuality, down from 40% in 2021, while girls' positive views fell from 78% to 51%.
What people are saying 8 voices from 1 site · best of 11 · verbatim
- What specifically is driving boys to consume more manosphere content — algorithms, absent alternatives, or broader political normalization?
- Will the Dutch cabinet's proposed pressure on social media companies lead to concrete policy?
- Sep 21
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Pendulum swings. The harder it swings forward, the harder it swings back. It’ll take a while to go forward again. Inevitably, some people will be left behind in their mindset.
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Exactly. We are so fucked. Culture war everywhere, while Europe is getting fuck " in the a * by pedo billionares.
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you suer it's USA and not just...*checks notes with how many EU countries are anti lgbtq* half of EU countries?
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Yes, America, definitely no other homophobic countries increasingly influencing Dutch public life.
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If you want to get rid of manosphere, we need to provide an alternative. Without that we can talk about „Andrew Tate bad” and accomplish absolutely nothing.
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USA exporting their cultural war everywhere. American social networks should be banned
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yeah, this is what social media is doing to the world. Fuck the manosphere and the algorithms that feed this garbage to young boys.
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Because their algorithms are full of extremist manosphere bullshit. OP, why did you delete your previous post?