Incel Culture and Our Children: Creating Belonging in a Rejecting World

The online world has become a refuge for both boys and girls - a place to connect,

escape, and explore identity. While “girl world” online has been widely studied, the

digital spaces where boys gather remain more opaque. What draws so many young

boys into online communities that can twist loneliness into anger, and uncertainty

into ideology?

This talk unpacks the growing fascination boys have with influencers like Andrew

Tate and Logan Paul, examining what the rise of incel culture reveals about how

young tweens and teens search for belonging in digital spaces that too often breed

rejection, rage, and rigid ideas about gender and power.

Drawing on real-world examples and insights from Pam Tudin’s extensive work with

tweens, we’ll explore how algorithms, social media, and isolation can create powerful

echo chambers, and, crucially, how adults can interrupt that process.

With her trademark warmth and practicality, Pam offers grounded, hopeful strategies

for therapists, parents, and educators to help boys feel seen, valued, and connected

— so they can build a sense of belonging that supports healthy, human identity

formation.