Boys, masculinity & TikTok: What every parent should know.

Who’s really shaping our sons? The rise of ‘manfluencers’

If you're raising a teenage boy today, you're not just parenting at home, you’re also parenting through a screen.

Social media is filled with influencers targeting young men with messages about what it means to be "alpha," “dominant,” or “real.” Some of these so-called 'manfluencers' promote confidence and discipline, but many push extreme ideas laced with misogyny, aggression, and control.

Figures like Andrew Tate have become household names among teenage boys, with millions of views on platforms like TikTok and YouTube. And here's the troubling part: their content isn't just out there - it's being pushed directly to your son through algorithms designed to keep him watching.

A 2024 study by University College London and the University of Kent found that TikTok’s “For You” page showed a fourfold increase in misogynistic content over just five days of casual browsing by new male accounts (source: The Guardian, Feb 2024).

Educators are seeing the impact. According to The Advertiser, teachers across Australia have reported a spike in sexist comments and disrespectful behaviour from boys directly linked to their exposure to online influencers. The behaviours don’t start in the classroom - but they’re showing up there.

So what can we do?

We don’t need to panic, but we do need to engage. Young men aren’t just searching for controversy, they’re searching for identity, guidance, strength, and a sense of purpose. And if they don’t get it from us, they’ll find it elsewhere.

As parents, teachers, coaches, and mentors, we need to speak up. Let’s have conversations about what real masculinity looks like strength with kindness, leadership with humility, confidence with respect. Let’s show boys that their masculinity isn’t something to apologise for, it’s something to own responsibly.

Our sons are watching. The question is: who are they watching most?

Email me if you’ve seen this kind of influence in your home, school or community. I’d love to hear how you’re navigating it.

Warm regards,

Cam