This study investigates the relationship between adolescent digital leisure participation and desensitization to online misogyny. The central research question asks: To what extent do different types of digital leisure activities predict adolescents' desensitization to online misogyny, and what psychological and contextual factors mediate this relationship? Specifically, this research examines whether cumulative participation in online gaming, social media, streaming services, and online communities is associated with higher acceptance of sexist attitudes, cyber sexual violence myths, and normalized exposure to misogynistic content.

The study addresses three sub-questions: which specific digital leisure activities demonstrate the strongest associations with desensitization indicators; whether online disinhibition mediates the relationship between digital leisure and desensitization; and whether gender differences exist in these relationships. The primary objective is to provide empirical evidence identifying which digital leisure forms are most strongly associated with youth desensitization to misogyny, while examining online disinhibition as a potential mechanism.

Adolescent leisure activities have increasingly migrated to online spaces. However, this shift has exposed youth to systematic encounters with misogynistic content embedded within digital platforms. Online gaming communities and social media serve as conduits for "manosphere" culture, exposing young people to sexual harassment, objectification, and rape culture during recreational activities (Bates, 2020; Ging & Siapera, 2018).

Recent research documents concerning trends. Vickery and Everbach (2021) identified a "radicalization pipeline" on YouTube and TikTok, where algorithms progressively expose adolescents to extremist gender ideologies. Massanari and Chess (2020) analyzed how meme culture trivializes misogyny, preventing adolescents from recognizing its severity. Jane (2017) emphasized that online misogyny has evolved into structural culture, with adolescent exposure profoundly impacting attitude formation.

Repeated exposure produces desensitization effects—reduced emotional responsiveness and increased prejudice acceptance (Soral, Bilewicz, & Winiewski, 2018). Despite this issue's severity for gender equality in education, empirical research examining which specific digital leisure activities contribute most significantly to youth desensitization remains limited. Existing studies focus on qualitative analysis or single platforms, lacking comprehensive quantitative investigation of how diverse participation patterns relate to multiple desensitization dimensions.

This research integrates Media Effects Theory, specifically cultivation and desensitization theory, to understand how repeated exposure to misogynistic content shapes adolescent attitudes. The Online Disinhibition Effect (Suler, 2004) serves as a mediating mechanism, referring to reduced social constraints in digital environments that may amplify desensitization. Ambivalent Sexism Theory (Glick & Fiske, 1996) captures the multidimensional nature of sexist attitudes, distinguishing between hostile and benevolent sexism. The study also employs Cyber Sexual Violence Myth Acceptance to understand acceptance of false beliefs minimizing online sexual harassment.

This research addresses the European/International dimension by examining transnational digital platforms operating identically across global contexts. While data collection occurs in South Korea, the platforms investigated—YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, online gaming, and streaming services—are identical to those used by European adolescents. South Korea combines high digital connectivity comparable to Northern European countries with distinct gender cultural dynamics. The quantitative methodology and validated theoretical frameworks facilitate cross-national comparison and replication studies in European contexts, advancing understanding of how transnational digital leisure environments pose universal challenges to gender equality in education.

This study employs a quantitative cross-sectional survey design with approximately 1,600 adolescents aged 14-18 years, randomly sampled from a nationally representative panel in South Korea. The online survey measures seven domains: (1) demographic variables including gender, socioeconomic status, parental media mediation, and peer pressure; (2) digital leisure participation across approximately 40 items assessing frequency and cumulative duration of engagement in online gaming, social media platforms, streaming services, and online communities; (3) ambivalent sexism using the Glick and Fiske (1996) inventory; (4) online disinhibition; (5) cyber sexual violence myth acceptance; (6) frequency of exposure to misogynistic content online; and (7) exposure to misogynistic language in school and daily life. Statistical analysis employs moderated mediation modeling. Digital leisure activities serve as independent variables, with cyber sexual violence myth acceptance and online misogyny exposure frequency as dependent variables. Online disinhibition and ambivalent sexism function as mediators, while gender, socioeconomic background, parental media mediation, and peer pressure serve as moderators. This approach identifies which digital leisure types most strongly predict desensitization outcomes and illuminates psychological mechanisms and contextual factors that amplify or buffer these relationships, providing evidence for targeted gender education interventions.

This research expects to identify specific digital leisure activities most strongly associated with adolescent desensitization to online misogyny. Anticipated findings include differential effects across platform types, with online gaming communities and certain social media platforms likely demonstrating stronger associations with cyber sexual violence myth acceptance and ambivalent sexism compared to passive streaming consumption. The study expects to confirm that cumulative participation duration and frequency in high-risk digital leisure contexts predict higher desensitization outcomes. Regarding mediating mechanisms, the research anticipates that online disinhibition will partially mediate the relationship between digital leisure participation and desensitization indicators. Adolescents experiencing higher online disinhibition through participatory digital leisure are expected to show elevated acceptance of sexist attitudes and cyber sexual violence myths. Additionally, ambivalent sexism is expected to function as a mediator linking digital leisure exposure to normalization of misogynistic content. The study anticipates significant moderating effects. Gender differences are expected, with male adolescents potentially showing stronger associations between certain digital leisure activities (particularly online gaming) and desensitization outcomes. Parental media mediation is expected to buffer negative effects, while peer pressure may amplify relationships between digital leisure participation and acceptance of misogynistic attitudes. Socioeconomic background may moderate exposure patterns and vulnerability to desensitization. These findings will provide empirical evidence for developing targeted gender education interventions addressing high-risk digital leisure contexts. Expected outcomes include identification of specific platforms and participation patterns requiring educational attention, understanding of psychological mechanisms enabling desensitization, and recognition of protective factors that can be strengthened through educational programs. The research contributes to international discourse on gender equality in education by demonstrating how transnational digital platforms create universal challenges requiring coordinated educational responses while acknowledging cultural specificities in manifestation and intervention strategies.

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