Struan Somerville

Males typically yearn for muscular bodies.

“Winter arc” this, “gym-bro” that, many influencers tell young boys to “start the cut” early. They plague the easily influenced minds of teenage boys. 

Many examples appear in television shows, movies, social media, and the music we listen to. The media has always played into the negative ideology towards masculinity, but why? 

Social media is an example of this trend. Everyone uses TikTok, Instagram, or Snapchat every day. Most people get on their phones to check their feeds first thing in the morning after they get up.  So of course, this frequent use leads to younger users being easily distracted and persuaded by the influencers they watch online.  

You will find many social media personalities, such as Andrew Tate or Kevin Samuels, successfully convincing their audience that they aren’t “manly” or tough enough. Then they give them a step-by-step tutorial on how to torture themselves for the sake of being accepted by society.

But these teenage boys have got to put that pre-workout powder down. Most protein powders contain high amounts of caffeine, which is extremely harmful to a teen’s body. These powders can increase the risk of kidney and liver failure. 

Unfortunately, this is not the only harmful effect of a chronic gym obsession. 

According to TheBlackandWhite.net, “While fitness culture promotes discipline, motivation and muscular development, the extreme physical and mental damage of such a culture overshadows the positive aspects. Focusing on purely physical goals and ignoring one’s external and internal health leads to obsessive practices.” 

If executed incorrectly, this “self-discipline” can deteriorate your mental well-being. Focusing too much on calorie intake can lead to forcing yourself to eat less than what you need or binge, both of which are physically and mentally damaging. 

According to EverydayHealth.com, “Toxic masculinity is linked to increased pressures to physically embody the ideals of strength and power, which can contribute to male body image issues in men.”

For as long as anyone can remember, men have been given the belief that if they are not strong or tough enough then they do not have any value and cannot call themselves a man.

Everyday Health says, “Expectations like these are part of what’s known as ‘toxic masculinity,’ a widespread societal and cultural view that asserts that “manliness” is achieved through toughness, power, aggressiveness, antifemininity, and little to no emotion — and that not meeting these ideals is weak or unmanly.”

There is an unhealthy and toxic stigma —which is deeply rooted in traditional male roles, homophobia, and misogyny— around masculinity and what is defined as “manliness” that can confuse many young teen boys who idolize Instagram fitness influencers.

While the “gym bro” community is toxic, there are still many people out there who advocate for a healthy lifestyle. However, younger audiences should still be careful of who they follow, and influencers should be mindful of what they post.