The evening, organized by the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Fundamental and Human Rights (LBI-GMR) in cooperation with Amnesty International Austria, the Austrian League for Human Rights, the University of Vienna, and the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, brought together academic analysis, political and civil-society perspectives, and personal experiences.

Ursula Kriebaum (University of Vienna) reminded the audience that digital innovations are often developed by people who do not reflect the full diversity of society. At the same time, she emphasized that the digital space also offers new opportunities for participation. Federal Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner stressed in a video message the importance of equality and non-discrimination in digital environments.

The evening was moderated by Kathrin Pollak (ORF), who, through precise questions and pointed framing, made the tensions within the debate visible. A spontaneous panel assessment of the current state of gender equality revealed a clear field of tension between progress and backlash.

Queer spaces under pressure

Steffi Stanković, comedian and trans activist, described how social media environments have changed for queer people. What was once perceived as a protected space is now shaped by bullying, misogyny, and queerphobia. She spoke openly about her male socialization in Serbia: “I was always told what I must not be: don’t be a girl, don’t cry.” This form of negative boundary-setting continues to shape many men today—and creates a void that right-wing influencers deliberately fill.

In the discussion, this point was further developed: men are often socialized through the devaluation of the feminine— “you throw like a girl.” Romeo Bissuti, clinical psychologist and head of the MEN Men’s Health Center, agreed: “Almost all men are afraid of being too feminine.” Stanković’s conclusion was bleak: attacks on trans people have reached a level that makes her anticipate “ten very dangerous years ahead.”

Why antifeminist content spreads so easily

Romeo Bissuti explained how quickly young men can enter the Manosphere: “Three clicks and you’re in.” Algorithmic systems flood users with simple answers and clear enemies.

At the same time, he warned against framing boys as a problem group. Many are searching for orientation, and equality can feel like a loss for some, because privilege often remains invisible. Bissuti spoke about the “costs of patriarchy for men”—from emotional impoverishment to rigid role expectations—and emphasized the importance of well-funded men’s counseling services. Right-wing movements are successful because they combine ideology and emotion particularly effectively.

Digital violence and structural power

Fiorentina Azizi-Hacker, head of #GegenHassimNetz (ZARA), reported from her advisory work. Most affected individuals are women or people facing multiple forms of discrimination. The most common pattern is silencing: people withdraw from public discourse out of fear of attacks. Digital violence extends “into the bedroom” and has real consequences for democratic participation.

Many forms of content are “awful but lawful”—harmful, yet not punishable under law. This illustrates the limits of criminal law. Azizi-Hacker called for greater transparency of algorithms, stronger regulation, and better funding for organizations supporting affected individuals.

Tradwives, gender reveal parties, and the non-synchronicity of progress

Elisabeth Holzleithner (University of Vienna) analyzed the Tradwives trend and the return of traditional gender roles. Gender reveal parties, she argued, are an “image of the catastrophe of the gender corset”—there is no space within them for non-binary identities.

She spoke of a “non-synchronicity” in digital developments: never before have queer and feminist voices been so visible, while at the same time antifeminist narratives are experiencing enormous popularity. Debates around the Istanbul Convention also show how much gender politics has become a battleground.

Political dimensions and outlook

Sigrid Maurer, deputy parliamentary leader of the Green Party, contextualized the developments politically. Gender equality progresses in waves—and at present, the movement is clearly going backward. Antifeminist narratives are increasingly politically mainstreamable, and digital platforms hold a concentration of power that influences democratic processes.

Maurer emphasized the imbalance in prevention work: while significant investment has been made in empowerment materials for girls, far fewer comparable programs exist for boys. Men’s counseling must be sustainably funded. Notably, she also described a shift in her position: she previously rejected a social media ban, but now considers it necessary—similar to other addictive substances—to protect young people.

In the audience discussion, the focus was on disinformation, media literacy, and gender-based violence. Disinformation works so effectively because it targets people’s emotions and exploits their needs for anti-democratic purposes, Bissuti explained. Several contributions stressed that empowerment often remains within its own bubble and that men need to be more actively included.

The evening made clear how contested digital spaces have become. Progress and backlash coexist, and the question of how digital public spheres are shaped is a central democratic challenge. Equality will not be achieved through laws or technological innovation alone. What matters is whether politics, educational institutions, civil society—and ultimately platform operators—assume responsibility.