Six Lessons from Six Conversations on Young Men in 2025

The Crisis of Young Men

A growing concern is that young men are facing a crisis, with many spending excessive time on video games or the gym, and a widening gap in higher education between the sexes. During a week-long series on AirTalk, FIKS FIT’s daily news program, we explored six major themes with experts, researchers, and listeners. Here are the key takeaways.

Gen Z Men Moving to the Right

Early exit polls from the 2024 presidential election indicate that young men are showing a shift toward the right in political ideology. Niobe Way, a NYU psychologist and author, studies these trends. She suggests that young men are desperate for meaningful connections and friendships. They also feel as if they’ve been placed “at the bottom of the hierarchy of needs” and therefore not taken seriously.

“It does not matter if it's true,” she said. “It’s about the feeling.”

Jacob Grumbach, an associate professor of Public Policy at UC Berkeley, noted that even though there was an increase in racial resentment and cultural conservatism among young men, Zoomers are still the most progressive generation, he added.

Fast-Tracking Their Muscles

Fitness is often seen as a core indicator of masculinity. However, in the age of algorithmic social media, gym culture has evolved into dangerous hubs for young men on their quest for fitness. While the benefits of fitness are obvious, extreme cases can lead to physical and mental problems, which are often overlooked in boys.

S. Bryn Austin, director of STRIPED, an eating disorder research and training program at Harvard and Boston Children’s Hospital, pointed out that muscle-building supplements are not regulated by the FDA and have been found to contain undisclosed pharmaceuticals and experimental stimulants. These products are easily advertised online by social media influencers, making them accessible to kids, so parents should remain vigilant.

The Increasing Education Gap

Experts discussed how boys start behind academically and struggle to commit to school, leading to a lack of self-confidence. They also report feeling more isolated in higher education. This raises concerns about the economic position of young men when they enter the labor force.

Kathryn Anne Edwards, an economist, stated that within every educational category, whether it’s a high school degree or a PhD, men outearn women in every category. From the labor market perspective, "the unequivocal advantage is still with men," she said.

Young Men and Faith

Another gender gap emerging is in spirituality and faith. Ryan Berge, who researches religious identity trends, noted that young men may be slightly more religious than young women, something never seen in modern polling history.

“I am hearing a lot of young white men especially tell me that one of the reasons they are drawn to spaces like the Catholic church or conservative evangelical groups is because those are spaces where you don’t have to apologize for being a white man,” Berge said.

Dating and Relationships

Shame, emotional illiteracy, fear of rejection, and lack of self-confidence are significant factors in young men forming connections, according to the experts we spoke with. Daniel Cox, director of the Survey Center on American Life at the American Enterprise Institute, found that young women are prioritizing political compatibility in ways they didn’t before.

“People just don't seem to be having much fun,” he said. “There is a lot more negativity and pessimism about whether they'll be able to find a spouse or partner.”

What Even Is Masculinity?

To wrap up the series, we posed this question to experts Niobe Way, a NYU psychologist and author, and Ioakim Boutakidis, professor and fellow at Cal State Fullerton’s American Institute for Boys and Men. Their insights provide a deeper understanding of the evolving concept of masculinity and its impact on young men today.