A recent study has revealed a concerning trend among young men, with many turning to social media influencers for advice on masculinity, life goals, and self-improvement.
A global study of over 3,000 men aged 16 to 25 from Australia, the UK, and the US revealed that masculinity content has become mainstream for many young men.
Is the term ‘toxic masculinity’ helpful?
The study found that more than 60 per cent of young men are engaging with masculinity-related content across platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.
For many, this content provides a roadmap for how to be a man in today’s world.
But experts, particularly those in the mental health field, are raising concerns about what’s being promoted within these online spaces.
On Monday’s episode of The Briefing, Dr Zac Seidler from Movember explores why the term toxic masculinity might be pushing young men away — and how we can still call out harmful behaviour without shutting down the conversation.
“The problem is the algorithm,” Dr Seidler said.
“Young guys are telling us they’re watching something that is actually really helpful to them and then the next video is misogynistic garbage. The algorithm is grouping this content together, and it’s seriously shifting their attitudes and values in a direction which we really don’t want it to go,” he said.
The report found that those who engage heavily with masculinity content are twice as likely to engage in risky behaviours such as using steroids or diet pills to achieve the ‘ideal’ body.
“This content is not just about self-improvement. It often enforces a very narrow, and sometimes toxic, vision of masculinity,” he added.
Despite the concerning trends, Dr Seidler argues that the rise of masculinity influencers cannot be easily dismissed.
“We can’t ignore it. We need to understand how it’s impacting young men and how we can guide them to healthier sources of support and inspiration.”
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