Educators and Experts Say Parents Need to Talk to Boys About Healthy Masculinity
Teachers, parents, and child-development experts are increasingly raising concerns about the influence of online personalities who promote aggressive, misogynistic, or hyper-masculine views to young boys. While many influencers market themselves as self-help gurus or motivational figures, critics argue that some are shaping boys’ attitudes toward women, education, and success in troubling ways.
One of the most prominent examples is Andrew Tate, a former kickboxer and social media influencer who gained a massive following by promoting a vision of masculinity centered on wealth, dominance, and rigid gender roles. According to Us Weekly, Tate built an audience through videos discussing money, relationships, and male identity, becoming one of the most recognizable figures in the so-called “manosphere”—a collection of online communities focused on men’s issues and traditional gender roles.
The Impact of These Messages Is Visible In Schools
In a BuzzFeed survey, educators described a growing “boy crisis” fueled in part by toxic online role models. One teacher observed that boys “simply do not seem interested in girls as people,” while another warned of “a lack of positive male role models” combined with the influence of “toxic influencers.”
Several educators also reported seeing boys become dismissive of education, with one teacher noting the popularity of online personalities who tell young men that they “don’t need school” and should focus exclusively on entrepreneurship.
These Issues Extend Beyond Academic Performance
According to a 2023 case study published by McGill University’s Define the Line initiative, exposure to influencers who promote misogynistic ideas can affect classroom culture, peer relationships, and students’ attitudes toward authority. Researchers found that some boys begin to view women and girls through a lens of competition or resentment, while others adopt simplistic ideas about masculinity that discourage empathy, emotional expression, and collaboration. The study warns that these messages can contribute to sexism, harassment, and increased conflict within schools.
Experts stress that most boys are not becoming extremists. However, repeated exposure to content that presents women as inferior or portrays education as unnecessary can gradually shape beliefs and behavior.
One of the biggest concerns is that these influencers often position themselves as mentors. They offer simple answers to complex questions about identity, confidence, success, and belonging—topics that many adolescent boys are already struggling to understand.
What Can Parents Do?
Experts recommend starting with open conversations rather than outright bans. Asking children who they follow online, what they admire about those creators, and how they evaluate information can help build critical-thinking skills.
Parents can also introduce boys to healthier role models who demonstrate that strength includes respect, responsibility, kindness, and emotional intelligence. Coaches, teachers, relatives, community leaders, and positive public figures can all provide examples of masculinity that are confident without being controlling.
Perhaps most importantly, experts encourage parents to stay involved in their children’s digital lives. By discussing online content regularly and helping boys distinguish confidence from arrogance and leadership from domination, families can provide the guidance young people need to navigate a complicated online world.
The goal is not to shield boys from every controversial idea. Rather, it is to ensure they have the tools to question harmful messages and develop a version of masculinity built on respect, empathy, and genuine self-confidence rather than online outrage and division.
