Young men increasingly inhabit their own unique digital ecosystems, navigating and consuming an immense volume of information and content every day. The world has started to take notice, sparking new conversations about the causes and implications of these online behaviours.
Despite this interest, basic underlying questions remain: Where are young men actually spending their time online? What kinds of content captures their attention? How are digital trends and new technologies reshaping their views on identity, relationships and society? By exploring these questions, we can better understand young men’s information seeking habits, media literacy, and the role of surrounding caregivers in helping young boys navigate this period of their lives.
This report explores online data from 4,200 young men aged 12 to 17 years old across six countries providing a comprehensive, nationally representative map of young men’s digital ecosystems and key emergent trends—including the rise of podcasts and the increasing prominence of artificial intelligence in dating and relationships. By undertaking this big-picture analysis, the results ensure we are better equipped to not only understand and engage with this demographic, but also to support their health and wellbeing throughout this complex period in their lives.