Why So Many Young Men Follow Online Influencers Today or “Why so many guys are lowkey obsessed with influencers rn”
- lhpgop
- 39 minutes ago
- 6 min read
...A guide for parents trying to understand what their sons are watching — and why it matters...
If you have a teenage or young adult son, you may have heard names like the Tate brothers, Wes Watson, or Jack Doherty coming from a phone speaker or computer screen. To many parents, these figures seem confusing or even alarming. Yet they command enormous audiences of young men.
Why do they have such influence? What do their followers actually want from them? And what does liking these personalities say about the young men watching?
The answer is less about politics and more about identity, aspiration, and entertainment. These influencers provide models of how to live, how to behave, and what success looks like — especially for young males trying to figure out their place in the world.
To understand their appeal, it helps to first understand how role models for young men have changed over time.
Then vs. Now: How Male Role Models Changed
The Arnold Schwarzenegger Era — Strength First, Wealth Later
4
Many parents recognize an important difference between their generation and today’s.
If you grew up in the 1970s, 80s, or early 90s, male role models looked very different from modern influencers. Figures like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, and the “Muscle Beach” bodybuilder culture emphasized:
physical strength
discipline and training
toughness
heroism
achievement through effort
personal and national pride
Money existed in the background — success brought wealth — but it was not the central message. The hero was respected because he was strong, capable, or courageous. Wealth was a result, not the goal.
The message was clear:
strength → achievement → respect → success
Today’s Influencer Model — Wealth First, Status First
Many modern online personalities reverse that order. Their message often emphasizes:
financial success
visible luxury
personal power
independence from institutions
public status and recognition
The message becomes:
money → status → respect → influence
This does not mean young men suddenly changed. Rather, the culture and media environment changed, and new figures emerged to match those conditions.
Why the Shift Happened
Several major changes pushed money and status to the center of modern influence.
Economic uncertainty
Earlier generations expected stable careers and predictable advancement. Today’s young adults face uncertain job markets and rising costs, making financial success feel like security.
Social media visibility
Success is now constantly displayed online — cars, houses, lifestyles, and income. Status is public and measurable.
Changing measures of respect
Earlier respect often came from physical strength, craftsmanship, or service. Today it is frequently linked to wealth and independence.
New media incentives
Online platforms reward attention and dramatic displays. Luxury and bold claims generate more views than steady effort.
The result is a different type of public role model.
Three Different Appeals to Young Men Today
Although often grouped together, today’s influencers represent different answers to the same question: How should a young man live?
The Tate Brothers — Power and Status
4
The Tate brothers present a lifestyle centered on wealth, confidence, and dominance. Their message emphasizes success, independence, and control over one’s life.
Young men drawn to this message are often responding to uncertainty about their future or social position. The appeal is simple: power equals security.
Followers typically seek:
confidence and status
financial independence
control over life outcomes
clear social hierarchy
Wes Watson — Discipline and Self-Control
4
Wes Watson focuses on structure, personal responsibility, and transformation. His message centers on discipline, routine, and accountability.
Followers are usually less interested in fame and more interested in improving their lives.
They often seek:
structure and direction
personal improvement
stability
self-control
Jack Doherty — Fame and Excitement
4
Jack Doherty represents a different appeal — entertainment and internet fame. His content focuses on pranks, risk-taking, and attention.
Younger viewers often watch for excitement rather than guidance. For many, he represents a world of constant stimulation and popularity.
They often seek:
excitement and humor
attention and recognition
social belonging
entertainment
What Followers Actually Want: Four Types of Fans
Not all viewers relate to influencers in the same way. Most fall into four broad groups.
1. “I Want to Be Him”
These viewers try to copy the influencer’s lifestyle and beliefs.
2. “I Want to Be Like Him”
They admire certain traits — wealth, confidence, or discipline — but do not copy everything.
3. “I’d Like to Hang Out With Him”
They enjoy the personality and feel a sense of social connection.
4. “I Just Watch for Entertainment”
They treat influencers like characters in a show or game.
Many viewers move between these roles over time.
Why Many Young Men Watch More Than One
These figures form a kind of ecosystem.
A young viewer might:
watch Jack Doherty for entertainment
listen to the Tate brothers for confidence advice
follow Wes Watson for fitness or discipline
This reflects different stages of personal development — excitement, identity formation, and self-improvement.
Who Is Most Influenced?
General patterns include:
Age
early teens: entertainment and excitement
late teens to mid-twenties: identity and status
late twenties and older: discipline and stability
Economic background
lower-income backgrounds often respond strongly to messages about financial escape
working-class audiences often respond to discipline themes
suburban middle-class youth often consume entertainment content
These are tendencies, not rules.
Why This Matters for Parents
The popularity of these figures reflects a larger social reality: many young men are searching for guidance about success, identity, and purpose.
Traditional sources of direction — community institutions, stable career paths, and clear social expectations — have weakened. Online personalities often fill that gap.
Understanding the appeal helps explain the influence.
The Larger Question
At its core, the rise of modern influencers raises a deeper question:
How do young men construct identity and purpose in a rapidly changing world?
Different role models offer different answers:
strength and heroism (earlier generations)
wealth and status (modern influencers)
discipline and self-control
excitement and recognition
The search for meaning remains the same.Only the models have changed.
Afterword: A Parent’s Guide to Talking With Young Men About Online Influencers
For many parents, discovering that a son follows strong online personalities can be confusing or unsettling. The instinct may be to dismiss or criticize the figures outright. But research on influence and communication suggests that understanding the appeal first leads to better conversations.
The goal is not simply to approve or reject what young people watch — it is to understand what needs the content is meeting.
Start With Curiosity, Not Judgment
Young men often follow influencers because they offer something meaningful to them — confidence, direction, entertainment, or a sense of belonging.
Instead of asking “Why are you watching that?”, try asking:
“What do you like about him?”
“What part of his message makes sense to you?”
“Do you think he’s realistic, or more like entertainment?”
These questions open conversation rather than shutting it down.
Recognize the Underlying Need
Different influencers appeal to different needs:
confidence and success
discipline and self-control
excitement and entertainment
identity and belonging
Understanding the need helps parents address the concern more effectively than focusing only on the personality.
For example, a young man drawn to discipline messages may be seeking structure. One drawn to status messages may be worried about his future.
Separate Entertainment From Life Guidance
Help young viewers think critically about what they consume.
You might ask:
“Is this advice, or just entertainment?”
“Would this work for most people?”
“What parts seem realistic?”
Encouraging reflection builds judgment rather than imposing it.
Provide Real-World Role Models
Online personalities become powerful when young people lack alternative examples. Exposure to mentors, coaches, teachers, or community leaders can balance online influence.
Real-world examples show that success and character take many forms.
Avoid Power Struggles
Directly attacking an admired figure can strengthen attachment to that figure. Calm discussion and perspective tend to be more effective than confrontation.
Influence grows strongest when it becomes forbidden.
Keep the Larger Perspective
Every generation has followed public figures — athletes, actors, musicians, or heroes of the time. Today’s influencers represent a new version of a long-standing pattern.
The central question is not whether influence exists, but how young people interpret and use it.
The Most Important Factor
The strongest influence in a young person’s life is still consistent guidance from trusted adults. Open communication, interest in their world, and ongoing conversation shape judgment more than any online personality.
Understanding influence is the first step toward guiding it.