Interest in Feminism in Social Media Drops; Anti-Equality Rises

Interest in feminism and equality on social media has declined significantly, with a 50% and 40% drop, respectively, in Google searches over the past three years. According to LLYC's Unfiltered report, 50% of posts about feminism on social network X are negative, evidencing an increase in polarization and anti-equality discourse. This phenomenon not only reflects a shift in digital conversation trends, but also poses significant challenges for advancing gender equity.

"We bring data that allows us to make the conversation more objective, more grounded in realities, and between all of us look for the best way to continue moving forward together in a more egalitarian and feminist society," says Luisa García, Partner and Executive Director of Corporate Affairs, LLYC, to Expansión. She emphasizes the importance of basing the debate on concrete data and evidence, rather than allowing polarization and misinformation to dominate the narrative.

García also highlights that anti-feminist discourse tends to be more aggressive, as "the macho side insults three times more than the feminist side," demonstrating an asymmetry in the nature of interactions.

The Sin Filtro report, based on the analysis of 8.5 million comments in 12 countries, reveals that interest in feminism and equality has lost momentum on digital platforms. This phenomenon is due, in part, to the polarization of positions, where the anti-equality discourse has gained ground. In countries such as Mexico, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic, the anti-equality conversation grew by 30%, while in Chile and the Dominican Republic, anti-feminist messages more than double feminist ones.

Reasons Behind the Online Feminist Decline

LLYC's study identifies several key factors behind the decline of the feminist debate and the rise of anti-equality discourse:

• Polarization and radicalization: Positions on feminism have split into clearly defined camps. 98% of counter-feminist profiles show radicalized views, and 33% of this community considers feminism to be radical. This discourse is fed by political messages, as 80% of the anti-feminist messages are directly politicized, linked to leaders with rigid positions.

• Disinformation and data manipulation: Anti-feminist communities frequently resort to manipulation of statistics to sustain their narrative. For example, they promote the idea of "reverse discrimination" that victimizes men, ignoring structural inequalities. This approach reinforces prejudices and hinders constructive dialogue.

• Declining interest and visibility: Google searches on feminism and equality have fallen by 50% and 40%, respectively, in the last three years. In countries such as Mexico, interest has remained at 36%, but overall, the decline is notable. This reduction in the visibility of the issue has led to an isolation of feminist communities, which face greater tension due to anti-feminist attacks.

Polarization affects not only social networks, but also personal relationships. García points out that young men are adopting conservative positions, while young women seek to move toward equity. This discrepancy generates tensions in family and couple dynamics, and could slow down progress in equality policies.

García emphasizes the need to increase the conversation on equality and feminism, preventing the debate from being hijacked by extremes. She proposes adapting the feminist discourse to make it more effective, appealing to positive emotions such as hope and solidarity, in contrast to the macho discourse that is based on fear. In addition, she recommends the participation of female experts and leaders who normalize the female presence in all spaces.

Analysis of Anti-Feminist Messages

The report also details the main messages that perpetuate the anti-equality discourse shared by 𝕏, revealing a narrative based on fear and misinformation. According to the data, 33% of the anti-feminist community considers feminism to be radical, a perception that is not supported by hard data, but by a narrative construction that seeks to delegitimize the movement. This argument is reinforced by the idea that feminism represents a threat to the traditional pillars of society, such as family and marriage, a position shared by 17% of the users analyzed.

In addition, 15% of anti-feminist messages argue that the movement "distorts" "feminine nature," a claim that resorts to gender stereotypes to justify resistance to change. On the other hand, 8% of this community associates feminism with unfair labor and legal advantages, suggesting that equality should be based solely on individual merit and not on policies that seek to compensate for historical inequalities.

Finally, 5% of users claim that equality has already been achieved and that current demands are exaggerated, a stance that ignores the structural gaps that still persist in areas such as access to opportunities, equal pay, and political representation.

These messages reflect a narrative based on fear and misinformation, which seeks to delegitimize feminist advances and maintain the status quo. The report emphasizes that the rise of anti-equality discourse not only polarizes social networks, but also poses a risk to advances in women's rights. Furthermore, polarization makes consensus building difficult and can generate a climate of hostility that discourages women's participation in public spaces.