The Rise of Toxic Influencers: How They’re Shaping Young Men

In recent years, influencers like Andrew Tate have gained significant traction among boys and young men. With his flashy lifestyle, polarising opinions, and promises of 'success', Tate appeals to young audiences seeking guidance, identity, and direction. While he promotes a traditional, self-improvement version of masculinity, his messaging also normalises extreme misogyny and harmful behaviors, which can have lasting negative effects on impressionable minds. Research highlights Tate as one of the most prominent and algorithmically amplified influencers shaping modern masculinity.

Understanding how influencers like Tate gain traction is key to addressing their impact and providing young men with healthier role models and values.

The Appeal: Why Young Men Are Drawn In

A Quest for Identity and Belonging

Adolescence and early adulthood are pivotal times for self-discovery. Boys and young men, often grappling with questions about who they are and what it means to "be a man", may look to public figures for answers. Influencers like Tate offer a simplified, albeit flawed, blueprint of masculinity centered on dominance, wealth, and control—values that can feel appealing in a world that often feels uncertain.

A Need for Confidence and Success

Many young men are drawn to influencers who project an image of success and power. Tate, with his luxury cars, expensive watches, and bold persona, taps into aspirations that many boys have but don’t know how to achieve. His rhetoric often positions him as the antidote to feelings of inadequacy or failure, which can be enticing for those struggling with self-esteem.

The Power of Online Algorithms

Social media platforms play a significant role in amplifying influencers like Tate. Algorithms prioritise sensational content—the kind that sparks strong emotional reactions, whether positive or negative. Young men who engage with one video are quickly funneled into a rabbit hole of similar content, reinforcing harmful messaging and creating an echo chamber that normalises these ideas.

Lack of Positive Male Role Models

Many boys grow up without strong, healthy male role models. Whether due to absent fathers, a lack of male mentors, or limited representation of positive masculinity in media, this vacuum leaves them vulnerable to influencers who promise quick fixes and easy answers.

The Rise of “Looksmaxxing”

A growing trend among young men is "looksmaxxing", the pursuit of extreme physical self-improvement to achieve societal standards of attractiveness. This trend, heavily promoted online, intersects with influencers like Tate, who emphasise superficial markers of success, including physical appearance, to assert dominance and worth.

Boys engaging in this trend often adopt practices like intense gym regimens, cosmetic procedures, strict dieting, and even the use of performance-enhancing drugs or skincare routines to achieve the "ideal" look. In extreme cases, some resort to painful and invasive procedures such as leg-lengthening surgeries or "bone smashing," where individuals attempt to reshape their facial structure by hitting their bones.

Looksmaxxing often reinforces harmful views toward women and girls by reducing relationships to transactional dynamics based on looks and status. Boys internalising these behaviors may tie their self-worth solely to their appearance or ability to "compete" for attention, further entrenching unhealthy beliefs about gender roles and self-worth.

Click the image above for more on ‘Looksmaxxing’ in this latest documentary

The Harmful Messaging

Influencers like Andrew Tate often promote ideas that are not only outdated but also harmful. These include:

Unhealthy Masculinity: Encouraging boys to suppress emotions, equate strength with aggression, and view vulnerability as weakness.

Misogyny: Framing women as shallow, inferior, objects to be controlled, or obstacles to personal success.

Materialism and Hyper-Individualism: Defining self-worth through possessions and wealth rather than relationships or personal growth.

Adversarial Worldviews: Fostering an "us vs. them" mentality that encourages conflict and resentment rather than collaboration.

Superficial Self-Worth: Trends like looksmaxxing teach young men to tie their self-esteem solely to their appearance and perceived dominance, perpetuating insecurity and competition.

These messages can have serious consequences, leading to strained relationships, poor mental health, and perpetuating cycles of unhealthy behaviour.

How We Can Combat Harmful Messaging

Promote Positive Role Models

Highlight influencers, celebrities, and everyday men who embody healthier forms of masculinity. These individuals should promote kindness, emotional intelligence, and respect for others while demonstrating that success isn’t just about money or power.

Encourage Critical Thinking

Teach boys and young men to question the content they consume. Why is this influencer saying what they’re saying? What’s their motive? Encouraging critical thinking helps dismantle the allure of oversimplified or harmful ideas.

Have Open Conversations

Parents, educators, and mentors need to create safe spaces for boys to talk about their feelings, challenges, and fears. When young men feel heard and supported, they’re less likely to seek validation from toxic figures. We have previously shared tips for parents on how to start the conversation with teens here.

Teach Media Literacy

Equip young people with the tools to understand how social media algorithms work and how content is designed to manipulate their attention. Awareness of these mechanisms can help them avoid getting trapped in harmful echo chambers.

Address Underlying Issues

Many young men turn to influencers like Tate because they feel lost, insecure, or disconnected. Addressing systemic issues like a lack of mental health support, economic opportunities, and positive community spaces can help reduce their vulnerability to harmful messaging.

Model Healthy Masculinity

Adults need to model the kind of masculinity they want young men to embrace. This includes showing empathy, embracing vulnerability, and fostering respect and equality in all relationships.

The Role of Society

Combating toxic influencers is a collective effort that requires everyone - from parents and educators to policymakers and tech companies - to take action. Together, we can create a society where young men feel empowered to reject harmful messaging and embrace a more authentic, compassionate version of masculinity.

Who are the healthy role models and positive male influencers you recommend? Share them in the comments - let’s keep the conversation going!

See Also:

“I own you”: Andrew Tate in his own words

Andrew Tate: A-Grade Poison. What parents and teachers need to know about his indoctrination of boys

Andrew Tate arrested in Romania on trafficking, rape and organised crime charges


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  • Renee Chopping
    published this page in News 2025-01-29 19:19:26 +1100

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