Male Allies UK has published new research on how adolescent boys feel about being a boy in today’s society, exploring their views on topics including gender, relationships and technology. The research involved surveys and listening sessions with 1,032 11- to 16-year-old boys in secondary schools across England, Scotland and Wales.
Male Allies UK has published new research on how adolescent boys feel about being a boy in today’s society, exploring their views on topics including gender, relationships and technology. The research involved surveys and listening sessions with 1,032 11- to 16-year-old boys in secondary schools across England, Scotland and Wales.
Key findings
Executive summary
Boys lack spaces to be, close relationships with people who know them well, and are vulnerable to loneliness and misguidance as they struggle with the balance of real life and online influences. There is a stark difference between how boys use AI compared to how most adults use it, with many boys turning to chatbots for emotional support, friendships, and romantic relationships.
While recognising that feminism has made the world a better place, over half of boys think they have it harder than girls today and many say they’re made to feel like a problem. Boys watch a varied set of online influencers but most don’t identify with Andrew Tate, instead watching the new age of manosphere influencers, some of whom were themselves influenced by the Tate brothers.
Secondary school boys feel a range of pressures that vary from individual to collective – from their personal appearance to global conflict. Yes, boys care about gaming and football, but they also care about peace and equality.
Amid the many challenges raised by boys interviewed – the search for purpose and meaning and the pressures of navigating adolescence – an overarching theme appeared. Boys today really care and want to care for others, are searching for belonging and connection, and are yearning for people to listen to them and build trust with them.