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Consent advocate Chanel Contos is at the National Press Club today, urging the government to give Australians the option of algorithm-free social media.

The Teach Us Consent chief executive said algorithms were exploiting young men’s insecurities and funnelling them misogynistic content, as teenage boys become the most likely cohort to commit child sexual abuse.

“It usually starts with something harmless, like a workout video or motivational content,” Contos said.

“Very quickly, boys and men are taking into the manosphere, communities that persistently promote the idea that emotional control, material wealth, and physical appearance and dominance is what makes a man.”

She said recommendation algorithms served fringe content to new users “to evoke strong feelings and gain their attention, whether out of harmless curiosity or as rage bait”, and Australians should be given the choice to opt in to algorithms.