MANILA, Philippines – Netizens were riled up by a dating company helmed by so-called “pick-up artists” (PUA), straight men who teach each other strategies on seducing and bedding women. 

The Facebook page of PUA Academy, which claimed on its cover photo to be “Asia’s Leading Dating Company”, has been the target of ire online in recent weeks, after posts calling the company out for promoting misogynistic culture began to circulate.

The Facebook page of organization Youth Against Sexual Harassment (YASH) shared screenshots of discussions among PUA Academy’s members, pointing out how members shared techniques for coercing women into having sex with them. 

Facebook user Marlina Santiago Carlos also shared a video snippet of a workshop by PUA Academy CEO “Smooth”, in which Smooth tells his audience that women like being forced into sex.

 More netizens have since shared posts bearing screenshots of similar PUA Academy discussions and videos, all of which use language and ideas clearly prejudiced against women. 

Below is a sampling of these online reactions on PUA Academy:

Reactions to PUA Academy – Curated tweets by rapplerdotcom

PUA Academy’s Facebook page and Youtube channel have been taken down as of posting. 

In June 2017, Facebook group “Pastor Hokage Bible Study” was taken down after it was discovered that its members were sharing and rating lewd photos of women and children. 

How do you feel about this “pick-up artist” culture? Share your thoughts on publishing platorm X. – Rappler.com