Masculine Identities in a Digital Era: How Social Media is Redefining Young Men’s Health
| Wednesday, March 26, 2025 |
| 9:20 AM - 9:50 AM |
| Ballroom 1 |
Overview
Dr. Krista Fisher, Young Men's Health Research Fellow - Movember
Presenter
Dr Krista Fisher
Research Fellow
Movember
Masculine Identities in a Digital Era: How Social Media is Redefining Young Men’s Health
Abstract
In a digital era, dominated by an uncertain and volatile social climate for young men, men and masculinity social media content emerges as both a Gen-Z cultural phenomenon and breeding ground for social, identity and ideological security. Amidst dating advice, extreme endurance challenges, and the rise of ‘Trad’ Wives and Husbands, a digital underbelly of the manosphere persists—amplifying echo chambers and reportedly isolating disillusioned young men. Understanding the true influence of men and masculinity narratives online, requires moving beyond surface observations and alarmist narratives to hear from young men themselves about how these digital worlds are shaping their ideas of masculinity and influencing their health and wellbeing. In this talk I will summarise qualitative and quantitative research findings from more than 3,000 young men in the United Kingdom, United States and Australia to: 1) Offer an operationalised framework categorising men and masculinity content, 2) describe the complex and sometimes contradictory influence of this content on young men’s health (mental, physical and relational) and 3) share key methodological considerations and opportunities involved in exploring and attempting to quantify effects of this content on young people. These insights will encourage attendees to recognise the underlying drivers influencing young men’s online engagement with men and masculinity content and strive towards strength-based solutions that empower young men to take control of their social media behaviour – navigating the uncertainties and insecurities offline which propel them to seek answers and validation through harmful online content.
1. Movember Institute of Men’s Health, Movember, Australia
2. Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
Key Learnings:
Men and masculinity content on social media entertains and motivates many young men. It also has the power, and oftentimes unseen potential, to shape their health and wellbeing. To truly understand and grasp its impacts it’s crucial we listen to the experiences of young men, and partner with them to codesign and codevelop effective health-based interventions.
1. Movember Institute of Men’s Health, Movember, Australia
2. Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
Key Learnings:
Men and masculinity content on social media entertains and motivates many young men. It also has the power, and oftentimes unseen potential, to shape their health and wellbeing. To truly understand and grasp its impacts it’s crucial we listen to the experiences of young men, and partner with them to codesign and codevelop effective health-based interventions.
Biography
Krista completed her PhD at Orygen, the Centre of Youth Mental Health at the University of Melbourne. Her PhD developed the first theory of young men’s anxiety, which depicts the pathways through which unidentified and untreated anxiety, can lead to poor mental health outcomes including depression, substance use and suicide. In 2023, Krista was appointed as the Young Men’s Health Research Fellow at the Movember Institute of Men’s Health. She now leads a suite of research projects focused on understanding and ultimately improving young men’s health through the places and spaces which hold meaning to them including social media, gaming and sports. Krista advocates for a community-wide approach to young men’s health research and intervention development. She is passionate about working to reduce the ripple effects of men’s ill-health – ensuring that the benefits of healthy men lead to healthier families, healthier communities, and healthier societies.
