Gender is not a Trend: How an Ancient Heresy is Going Viral

A Growing Trend, a Deeper Question

The rapid rise in gender dysphoria among adolescents—especially girls—has caught the attention of parents, educators, and healthcare professionals. While some say these youth are simply discovering their true identity, others warn that something more complex is at work.

What if gender confusion is not simply an individual experience, but a socially influenced phenomenon?

One term gaining traction is “social contagion”—the spread of ideas and behaviors through peer groups, often amplified by technology. This concept, long studied in psychology, may help explain why so many teens are suddenly identifying as transgender.

But before we draw conclusions, let’s take a closer look.

What Is Social Contagion?

According to the National Library of Medicine, social contagion is “the spread of behaviors, attitudes, and affect through crowds and other types of social aggregates.” Adolescents, they note, are especially vulnerable because of their developmental stage and sensitivity to peer influence and media.

Social contagion is not a conspiracy. It’s a well-documented psychological phenomenon that is linked to an ancient Christian heresy.

1. Mental Health and Technology: A Perfect Storm

In the early 2010s, psychologists documented "suicide clusters"—groups of teens in the same school or area attempting suicide in rapid succession. Suicide, depression, and anxiety have all shown signs of spreading through social networks. Among young girls, suicide rates more than doubled in the last decade.

According to social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, much of this mental health crisis correlates with the widespread use of smartphones and social media, where digital addiction, online comparison, and virtual bullying increase emotional fragility.

In the same timeframe, gender identity struggles skyrocketed.

2. Gender Dysphoria Among Girls Has Exploded

From 2009 to 2019, gender clinic referrals in the UK increased by 1,000% for boys—but over 4,000% for girls. In the U.S., the number of 18–24-year-olds identifying as transgender has quintupled since 2014.

Why the sudden shift, especially among girls?

Researcher Lisa Littman coined the term Rapid-Onset Gender Dysphoria to describe teens—particularly girls—whose gender confusion emerged suddenly during adolescence, often after exposure to online communities encouraging transition.

Abigail Shrier, in Irreversible Damage, describes how girls struggling with anxiety, trauma, or social pressure are being swept into a cultural movement that promises clarity but may deliver long-term harm.

Many detransitioners have since come forward to share that they were influenced more by online trends and peer groups than by deep-seated dysphoria. Yet in many cases, their voices are silenced or dismissed.

3. The Gnostic Parallel: An Ancient Heresy Revisited

The current trend mirrors the ancient heresy of Gnosticism, which promoted a radical separation between the material and spiritual realms. Gnostics viewed the physical body as a prison for the soul, deeming matter inherently evil and the spirit inherently good. This belief led to the notion that true identity is found by rejecting the physical in favor of the spiritual.

Similarly, modern gender theory often posits that one's true self is independent of biological sex, suggesting that personal identity is separate from the physical body. This aligns with Gnostic thought, which deems the material world deceptive and enslaving, advocating for rebellion against the natural order.

What Does the Bible Say About Gender?

The Bible begins with a foundational truth: God created humanity as male and female, each bearing His image. This distinction is not arbitrary or culturally constructed—it is a reflection of God's intentional design. Genesis 1:27 makes clear that both men and women reveal something essential about who God is.

Beyond Genesis, Scripture offers deeper insight into the nature of identity. In Jeremiah 1:5, God says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,” showing that our identity is not a late discovery but a divine intention. Psalm 139 echoes this with the declaration that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” These verses affirm that our bodies are not mistakes—they are crafted with purpose and care.

The New Testament reinforces the goodness of the body through the incarnation of Jesus Christ. God didn’t reject the physical—He entered into it. This directly challenges the ancient heresy of Gnosticism, which claimed the body was bad and only the spirit mattered. Christianity has always rejected that dualism. Instead, the Bible presents a unified view of the human person: fully physical, fully spiritual, both essential and good.

God doesn’t make mistakes. The body you were given is not something to be escaped, altered, or redefined to match internal feelings. It is a vital part of who you are—created with intention, affirmed by Scripture, and loved by God.

Trusting Him, Shaping Me, Restoring Us

As Christians, we are called to compassionate truth. We must care for those who experience gender dysphoria while courageously confronting age-old Gnostic lies:

Trusting Him: God’s design for sex and identity is wise, good, and rooted in love—even when the culture says otherwise.

Shaping Me: We are not defined by fleeting feelings or digital trends, but by the unchanging truth that we are created in God's image—body and soul.

Restoring Us: We must help young people discover the beauty of who they are created to be, and resist narratives that separate our physical body from identity.

How to We can Respond

• Disciple the Whole Person. Teach young people to understand their identity as both spiritual and physical as an integrated whole. Help them resist the lie that they are trapped in the “wrong body.”
• Guard Against Digital Influences. Monitor screen time and encourage face-to-face community. Many youth are most vulnerable to gender ideology through unfiltered access to online influencers.
• Listen Before You Speak. Teens experiencing confusion need empathy, not lectures. Ask questions, hear their story, and point them back to God’s design in love.
• Educate on Root Issues. Help your family and community understand that many gender struggles stem from deeper pain, peer dynamics, and cultural confusion—not just personal discovery.
• Support with Truth and Grace. Be a steady voice of truth in a world of noise. Offer kindness without compromising conviction. Remember, you are not alone in this journey.

Human Identity Is Not a Trend

Gender confusion should never be treated lightly, but neither should it be blindly affirmed. Behind the headlines and hashtags are real lives—young people searching for meaning, belonging, and love.

As Christians, we have a better story to tell.

If you want to be equipped to engage cultural questions like these with wisdom and grace, visit IdentityProject.tv. Explore videos, courses, and conversation guides designed to help you stand firm in God’s truth and walk with others in love.