A disturbing trend of misogynistic content has surfaced on TikTok in Brazil, where videos depicting men practicing violence against mannequins have gone viral. These clips are often accompanied by the chilling slogan, “I’m training in case she says no,” signaling a dangerous intersection between online hate speech and real-world brutality.
The proliferation of these videos encouraging men to attack women has moved beyond digital provocation to tangible tragedy. In one harrowing instance, a 20-year-old Brazilian woman, Alana Anisio Rosa, was subjected to a violent assault in February after politely declining the romantic advances of a man. According to her mother, Jaderluce Anisio de Oliveira, the attacker had been consuming this specific type of content on social media before breaking into her daughter’s home and stabbing her approximately 50 times.
The severity of the attack left Rosa in a medically induced coma for several weeks and required multiple surgeries. This case has brought international attention to how online misogyny is not merely a series of offensive posts, but a catalyst for extreme physical violence in a country already struggling with a crisis of gender-based killings.
The scale of the issue is reflected in national statistics. Last year, Brazil recorded 1,586 femicides, a figure that represents a record high for the country according to reports on the record number of femicides.
The Digital Pipeline of Masculinism and Hate
Experts warn that this phenomenon is part of a broader rise in “masculinism” and online misogyny that legitimizes and stimulates violence against women. Daniel Cara, a professor at the University of Sao Paulo specializing in masculinism research, notes that this trend is not isolated to Brazil but is present in numerous countries, serving to normalize the idea that violence is an acceptable response to female autonomy or rejection.
The accessibility of this content has increased dramatically. While such discourses were previously confined to the deeper, less visible corners of the internet, they are now easily discoverable on mainstream platforms. A recent study by the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro revealed that 123 YouTube channels promoting this type of discourse reached 23 million subscribers—an increase of 18% compared to two years ago as detailed in research on online misogyny.
Estela Bezerra, a representative of the state body responsible for combating violence against women, describes these publications as “hate speech” that propagates values threatening to return society to an “era of barbarism.” The transition from watching a video of a mannequin being stabbed to attacking a human being is, for some, a short and deadly leap.
Government and Platform Accountability
The Brazilian government and judicial authorities are beginning to push back against the platforms hosting this content. TikTok has been summoned by Brazilian authorities to explain the circulation of these videos and the effectiveness of its moderation policies in preventing the spread of content that encourages violence against women following the summons of TikTok by Brazilian authorities.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has addressed the escalating nature of these attacks, stating that “men are becoming increasingly inhuman and violent.” His comments underscore a growing concern that the digital amplification of patriarchal dominance is eroding basic human rights and safety for women across the nation.
Key Impact Factors
- Normalization: The use of slogans like “training in case she says no” frames violence as a “skill” or a “preparation” rather than a crime.
- Algorithmic Reach: The viral nature of TikTok and the growth of YouTube channels mean that vulnerable or radicalized individuals are more likely to encounter this content.
- Real-world Translation: The case of Alana Anisio Rosa serves as a direct link between the consumption of “training” videos and a near-fatal assault.
The Global Context of Online Misogyny
While the current focus is on Brazil, the pattern of “manosphere” content—which often promotes the domination of women and the rejection of feminist values—is a global concern. The ability of these movements to migrate from niche forums to mainstream social media feeds has created a pipeline that can radicalize young men, leading them to view women not as equals, but as objects to be controlled or punished.
The intersection of high femicide rates and the viral spread of violent “training” videos creates a volatile environment. When digital content validates the impulse to commit violence upon being rejected, it transforms a personal grievance into a perceived social mandate for some users.
As the legal battle with TikTok continues and the Brazilian government seeks tighter regulations on hate speech, the case of Alana Anisio Rosa remains a stark reminder of the human cost of algorithmic negligence. The focus now remains on whether platforms will implement more aggressive moderation to dismantle these networks of hate before more “training” videos lead to more victims.
The next critical step in this development is the response from TikTok to the Brazilian government’s summons, which will determine how the platform intends to address the systemic spread of these violent trends.
We invite our readers to share their perspectives on the responsibility of social media platforms in preventing real-world violence in the comments below.
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