Overview

• Common Sense Media’s July 2025 survey of 1,017 U.S. boys found 73% regularly encounter masculinity-focused posts, with 23% reporting heavy exposure.
• Boys said the content was largely recommendation-driven, with 68% saying it appeared without them looking for it.
• Higher exposure correlated with lower self-esteem, more loneliness, and a greater reluctance to share emotions.
• Nearly all respondents (91%) saw body- and appearance-related messages such as building muscle, fashion, or clear skin.
• The report documents frequent toxicity online—70% observed bullying, and over half encountered racist, homophobic, or misogynistic language—and urges schools and families to build digital literacy, explain algorithms, foster emotional dialogue, and provide positive male role models, while noting the findings are correlational.