Why Social Media Algorithms Don't Protect Gay People: From Melbourne to the Post-Soviet Space

The issue of the ineffectiveness of current measures to regulate the digital environment has become a central topic of discussion in the Victorian State Parliament (Australia). Using the example of a series of violent attacks by teenagers on gay and bisexual men In Melbourne, it is becoming clear that neither content moderation nor traditional policing methods can keep up with the growth of the “manosphere” and far-right networks.

In February 2026, members of the Victorian state parliament launched an investigation into far-right influencers suspected of radicalizing young people. The investigation was prompted by a rise in attacks on gay people: Teens are inspired by TikTok videos that portray violence as a “fight for justice”.

What's Happening in Melbourne

It all began back in late 2024. In October, police arrested a group of 30 people, most of whom were between the ages of 13 and 20. According to investigators, they used dating apps to meet men, arranged to meet them in secluded places, and then beat, robbed, and humiliated them. All of this was recorded on video.

In the summer of 2025, a similar case came to light: a 19-year-old state resident attacked two men after meeting them on Grindr. In court, he admitted that he had been inspired by TikTok videos in which such actions were portrayed as “vigilante justice” in the name of “justice.”

Parliament's Response

In February 2026, members of the Victorian legislature launched an investigation into far-right influencers. They are suspected of deliberately radicalizing teenagers and, in effect, teaching them to commit acts of violence.

Ive Pulelli, a Legislative Council member from the Australian Greens, stated that these attacks cannot be considered random. According to him, this is a systemic problem, not a series of isolated incidents.

What is the “manosphere”?

Experts refer to an entire online ecosystem known as the “manosphere.” It is a network of far-right channels and communities that promote “alpha male” ideology, radical misogyny, and homophobia.

Several mechanisms operate within this environment:

• Redpilling. A term from the movie *The Matrix*. In radical communities, this is the term used to describe an “epiphany” and the adoption of their ideology.
• Radical influencers. Among the most well-known figures is Andrew Tate, whose views are actively being spread among young men.
• Incels and "men's rights activists" communities. These groups serve as a platform for normalizing hatred toward women and LGBTQ+ people.

Radicalization often occurs gradually: teenagers are drawn in through memes, videos, and private chat rooms. By the time it comes to actual violence, the person is already deeply immersed in the ideology.

Why Algorithms Fail

Social media platforms are designed to hold your attention. Algorithms promote content that elicits a strong reaction, and aggressive videos often do just that.

The problem is that violence is disguised as “opinion” or “political debate.” Videos of attacks can be presented as exposés or a “fight for morality.” By the time moderators investigate, the videos have already gone viral and gained an audience.

In the case of the 19-year-old attacker, it was precisely these videos that served as a trigger. He perceived what he saw as an acceptable model of behavior.

The Technology Gap

The police are facing a new reality:

• Dating Services as a Trap. It is difficult (or impossible) to monitor private messages in apps before a crime is committed.
• Content for the sake of virality. The attacks are carried out not only for the sake of robbery, but also to record videos. These videos then end up online, fueling the next wave of aggression.

It creates a vicious cycle: online ideology breeds offline violence, and then that violence itself fuels further radicalization.

Why Is an Investigation Necessary?

A parliamentary commission must investigate exactly how bloggers and closed networks circumvent restrictions, how teenagers are drawn into extremist communities, and why existing measures to support victims and prevent crime have proven ineffective.

According to Pulelli, the problem does not arise on its own. Radicalization on the fringes of the internet has already reached a dangerous level. If we do not understand how these networks operate and how to counter them, localized outbreaks of violence could become much more widespread.

Violence and Radicalization Targeting Gay Men in the Post-Soviet Space

The Australian experience shows just how dangerous digital radicalization of young people can be. But similar problems exist in the countries of the former Soviet Union—only here they tend to manifest not through the TikTok manosphere, but through a combination of social stigma, official rhetoric, and the lack of effective protective institutions.

In the post-Soviet space, attitudes toward gay men and the LGBT community in general have long been marginalized, and in some countries, this is still the case today remains extremely hostile. This is reflected not only in words, but also in the actions of the authorities and society.

Denial and Discrimination from the Official Level

In some countries of the former Soviet Union, gay people and other LGBT individuals have virtually no right to live in safety. Harsh political rhetoric, laws against “propaganda of non-traditional relationships,” , and even the designation of LGBT organizations as extremist groups create a situation in which people are left without legal protection and are forced to face pressure from law enforcement and society. For example, in Russia in recent years, the number of legal prosecutions for LGBT-related symbols and stances has increased, and there have been cases where people have been labeled extremists for their activism or even for expressing their identity online.

Laws banning “gay propaganda” have long been used as a tool to restrict freedom of speech, but since these regulations were expanded, the number of administrative penalties has risen sharply.

Violence and Lack of Protection

This institutional vulnerability is exacerbated by the fact that, in a number of countries, aggression against LGBT people is perceived as “normal” or even condoned by the majority of society, which in turn fuels hatred both online and offline.

Reflected in the statistics

International reports on hate crimes show that incidents of aggression against LGBT people are documented in a number of post-Soviet states, although official reporting and data collection methods are generally weak and fragmented.

In addition to physical attacks, social and digital pressure also have a significant impact. In a context where openly identifying as gay is stigmatized, people face online threats, harassment, and an inability to access objective information about their rights.

Why It's Important to Consider This Along with the Australian Experience

What is happening in Australia and what is happening in the post-Soviet space are processes that differ in form but are similar in essence. There, radicalization stems from online ecosystems that promote violence and mutual hatred. Here, however, the digital environment is intertwined with long-established cultural attitudes and official rhetoric that not only fail to prevent violence but, in many cases, actually fuel it.