Teenage Boys, Toxic Masculinity & Mental Health

What Do We Do About Teenage Boys & Toxic Masculinity?

It’s no secret that young men are increasingly being drawn towards online spaces that perpetuate toxic masculinity - and TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Discord - these platforms are filling the silence. They’re shaping attitudes towards women, power, emotions, and identity. And they’re doing it fast.

Let’s be clear: these platforms are not inherently the problem. But when we step back as parents, educators, employers, or mentors - when we rely on algorithms to do the heavy lifting - we leave a vacuum. And we know what fills vacuums: unsupported data, misinformation, and harmful, outdated ideas of what it means to be a man.

The statistics are stark. Rates of self-isolation among teenage boys are rising. Mental health challenges are quietly brewing beneath the surface. And still, for many, the dominant message is that vulnerability is weakness, anger is strength, and success looks like domination - not collaboration.

So, what’s the answer? It’s not banning apps. It’s not shaming boys for idolising influencers. It’s showing them better.
We need to model — loudly and consistently — that masculinity can look like:

✅ Respect
✅ Accountability
✅ Emotional literacy
✅ Empathy

We need to give them real role models. Real conversations. Real community.
This isn’t about policing masculinity. It’s about expanding it.

If we want boys to thrive — emotionally, socially, professionally — we can’t leave their education to algorithms. We need to start showing up - now.

#WellnessintheFormativeYears #EarlyYearsLearning