it's not just social media, it's economic and social polarization of which social media is one of many factors.

truth is, generally when times are bad, people tend towards more extremist views. when times are good, more moderate viewpoints are more common.

gender quality seemed more reasonable in the 90s and 2000s, but it's taken a huge dive at the same time economic inequality has exploded and social mobility has plummeted

Also these views are also shared by women, a few studies are showing that young women are far more hostile towards young men than men are towards them, especially among younger generations. it cuts both ways and the affects amplified each other. https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/polling/2026/04/revealed-the-new-radicalism-among-young-women

and you also see a return of the desire for trad gender roles, largely due to economic insecurity in both sexes.

I'm older, but anecdotally, I miss gender interactions from the 2000s, things are way more hostile now even in my own demographic, and most women I meet now have way more traditional expectations than they did even 5 years ago, of me and of themselves. Shit is weird.