Recently, “alpha male” culture has gained popularity on social media, causing a rise in toxic masculinity amongst young men. An alpha male, according to the Oxford Dictionary, is defined as “a man tending to assume a dominant or domineering role in social or professional situations.” Influencers like Andrew Tate and YouTuber Alpha M, have started spreading misogynistic views to encourage young men to feel superior to women. 

Senior Peter Dungjen explains how he would define alpha male culture, “Someone who’s not afraid to stick up for himself and other people and just watches over people who can’t stick up for themselves.”

Women have explained their disturbance regarding alpha male culture. Senior Jillian Puckett voices her concerned opinions on the rise of alpha male culture.  

“A lot of alpha males teach others that women like when they are aggressive and assert their dominance and I just don’t think that’s a safe thing to be teaching, especially when women are people too.”

Not only women feel that these alpha male belief systems are harmful; some young men have echoed these concerns. Dungjen explains his stance.

“I do believe that some of the things that influencers are saying- like that certain bald headed guy [Andrew Tate]- are kind of misogynistic, and there’s a lot of stuff that some people are saying are good, and there’s a lot of stuff that you listen to it and you’re like ‘we’re not stuck in 1962, you can’t say that about people’”

Social media has been a significant factor in the rising popularity of alpha male culture. Many influencers use platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram or even have podcasts to share their beliefs. Dungjen shares his experiences with alpha male podcasts.

“I listened to a podcast one time that my friend showed me, and the whole podcast was about how women in marriage should still be submissive, and I just shut it off because I’m not listening to that, that’s not right.”

These influencers tend to target the younger generation of men, because their opinions are more easily molded. Senior John Palomino, shares his thoughts on the impact alpha males have on young boys.

“There’s a lot of young kids who maybe look up to someone like Andrew Tate, because some of the things he says maybe have good lessons about hard work and motivation or whatever, but they only see the side of it that’s maybe not as good, if they’re repeating some of the things he says word for word, maybe young kids don’t truly understand what he’s trying to portray and just kind of think he’s exactly how he is on the internet and want to be exactly like him.”

Alpha male influencers have a tendency to criticize feminine men for not fitting into their masculine standards. However, the majority of students interviewed claimed neutrality over femininity in men. 

“I think it’s someone’s choice–they can do whatever they want–personally I don’t know if that’s necessarily how I portray myself,” Palomino states, “but I mean, it’s their choice and they can portray themselves however they want. I don’t have a problem with it.”

Alpha male culture has been spread worldwide due to the easy access of social media platforms. These known influencers like Andrew Tate and Alpha M. have had a big hand in the large popularity that alpha male culture has gained. Whether these effects are negative or positive, it is largely affecting the online community of younger generations as a whole.