Boys and young men constantly get messages about how they should behave, look, or interact, both in real life and on the internet. These expectations come from friends, society, online spaces, games, movies, and long-standing cultural ideas about masculinity. Social media makes this worse by increasing visibility, comparison, and judgment from peers. As a result, many young men struggle to make decisions that align with their values, find it difficult to set boundaries, and may feel stressed or unable to ask for help. Check out the tips below to recognize pressure, respond confidently, and seek support when needed.

Understanding the source of pressure

Before boys and young men can resist harmful social messages, they need to recognize where these messages come from, including family, peers, media, games, music, and social media. To resist this, it is important to speak up against harmful stereotypes and be yourself, remembering you don’t have to follow society’s expectations of masculinity.

Be aware of the most common forms of pressure in relationships.

One of the most common forms of digital pressure is to send unwanted images or pressure someone else to share intimate or sexual images, which is a form of sexual violence. Using pressure, manipulation, threats, or silence to control someone is a form of relationship abuse.

Healthy relationships are not built on pressure, so it is important to respect boundaries, never share private images that someone has trusted you with, and avoid pressuring others even as a joke or in retaliation. If someone is being threatened or blackmailed with images, they should seek immediate help from a trusted adult, advocate, or campus resource. 

Support is available, and you don’t have to navigate pressure alone

When boys and young men experience relationship abuse, sexual violence, or pressure to behave in certain ways, it can feel like there is no one to turn to, which may lead to isolating from others, depression and anxiety, acting out of character, rejecting support from others, and blaming themselves for the actions of others.

To cope, it is important to identify support systems such as trusted friends, groups, local organizations, and caring adults. It is also important to remember that the harm experienced is not your fault and does not make you “less of a man,” as abuse can happen to anyone. Taking care of well-being through digital breaks, journaling, rest, enjoyable activities, and talking to someone about feelings can also help.