What Are We Doing to Our Boys?

This morning I sat down to write something entirely different. Then I read Movember’s latest report " Young Men's Health in a Digital World", and everything else could wait.

Here’s the short version:

Boys today are being taught how to “be a man” not through education, not through relationships, not through trusted systems, but through a drip-feed of algorithm-approved content. Content optimised for engagement, not growth.

And the results? Grim.

• Suicide is the leading cause of death for men aged 15–44 in Australia

• Only 31% of young men say they feel connected to their community.

• Nearly 1 in 2 are getting advice on masculinity from social media.

  
  

This isn’t just a mental health crisis.

It’s a failure of education.

• Of culture.

• Of design.

Some of the content isn’t overtly toxic. It often starts with good intentions: discipline, self-improvement, financial literacy. But scratch the surface and you find the same formula, hyper-individualism, fear-based performance, and the message that your worth equals your output.

That’s where it breaks.

Most boys don’t have the context, support, or tools to filter what’s aspirational from what’s manipulative. They’re not media literate. And more urgently, they’re not algorithmically literate.

Movember’s report spells it out:

“The algorithms driving online platforms often amplify the most extreme and emotionally charged content. Young men are exposed to polarising narratives that shape their beliefs before they even have the chance to explore who they are.” — Movember, 2025 Report: Young Men’s Health in a Digital World

That’s not just a media issue. That’s a system failure.

I believe education is infrastructure, the kind that supports entire generations. When that infrastructure is missing, we shouldn’t be surprised when young people look elsewhere for answers.

I also believe in clarity.

If content doesn’t connect, if programs don’t scale, if learning doesn’t stick, it’s not working. And right now, most boys are being educated by engagement metrics, not mentors.

So, what do we do?

We acknowledge the terrain has changed.

Influencers and the attention economy now shape the hearts and minds of adolescents more than schools, parents, or coaches.

“41% of young men reported that influencers have more impact on their worldview than school, parents or coaches combined.”— Movember, 2025 Report

We have the evidence, the research, and the programs. But we're not delivering them in formats that work. They’re online, in short-form, long-form, comment-enabled spaces where they can see themselves, and be seen.

Here’s the shift:

• From media literacy → to algorithmic literacy

• From soft campaigns → to structured learning

• From outrage → to outcomes

This isn’t about telling boys what not to believe. It’s about building scaffolding, emotionally, intellectually, culturally, so they can stand tall. Systems that meet them where they are and guide them somewhere better.

Because confidence in this world starts with understanding what you’re up against. And what they’re up against is a machine that monetises confusion, packages masculinity as performance, and sells identity in exchange for attention.

The good news?

We’ve got momentum.

The federal government has committed over $1 billion in mental health services, including new digital and early intervention programs for young people.

“Labor will deliver new national early intervention services, with a strong focus on digital mental health platforms—meeting people where they are.” — ALP Policy – Strengthening Medicare, 2024

The opposition had also pledge if they had been successful in their campaign to be elected.

This is the time to act.

• To partner.

• To build.

• To deliver learning that lands, sticks, and actually helps.

This newsletter is for the doers.

If you're reading this, you already know the problem. But knowing isn’t enough.

Let’s build the counterweight.

At PUR, we’re looking to co-create something in this space. We're calling it (working title) Agency Builders, a learning product designed to help adolescents build emotional agency and literacy in a world of attention overload and identity confusion.

• We’re currently seeking:

• Research partners

• Aligned organisations

• Founding funders

• And most importantly: a select group of young people to co-design it with us

The goal? A digital-first, evidence-backed, co-designed intervention that meets boys where they are and helps them navigate where they’re going.

If this hits a nerve, reach out.

Let’s do something about it.

Patrick