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Parents and Educators Target Toxic Masculinity Stemming from Social Media Influencers
By Emely Oviedo and Dr. Benjamin M. Drury
Media exposure in a variety of contexts is a part of our daily routine in the United States for people of all ages. Elderly listen to audio books while 30 somethings jog while listening to a podcast as a child watches a video on how to draw an alien and a baby watches a YouTube video on colors. We are surrounded by media, and we are constantly interacting with it. Most material that children come across is relatively benign with their attempts to lure a child to a sugary treat or expensive toy. With the rise of social media, content makers are less interested in selling you on a product…they are selling an ideology. In the context of addressing the influence of harmful content and promoting healthy attitudes towards consent and relationships among children, there exists a substantial need to understand the implications of these unprecedented times. By acknowledging the potential consequences of not engaging in open and frequent dialogues, we run the risk of allowing our young people to begin to believe narratives about their reality and how they need to live their life that can be a sharp departure from the values of their family and community. Especially for young boys, there exists a great deal of content especially on social media that supports a narrative…
