For decades, the “ideal” man in movies and TV followed a rigid script: he was the lone wolf, the stoic provider, or the action hero who solved every problem with a fist and a frown. But if you look at the latest data from the Center for Scholars & Storytellers (CSS) at UCLA, it’s clear that the next generation of viewers is ready to tear that script up.
In their 2025 Teens & Screens survey, researchers found a profound cultural pivot. Today’s young audiences aren’t just tired of outdated masculine stereotypes—they are actively demanding a version of masculinity rooted in empathy, vulnerability, and joyful connection.
The survey of 1,500 young people (ages 10-24) across the U.S. sends a loud message to creators: the most compelling hero isn’t the one standing alone. He’s the one who dares to be present, to be mindful of others’ feelings, while also being unrestricted enough to share his own.
According to Dr. Yalda Uhls, founder and CEO of CSS, “Youth are craving a version of masculinity defined by emotional availability.” This isn’t just a niche preference; the desire to see connected masculinity over lone wolf archetypes was nearly 5-to-1 among respondents.
The study highlighted several key areas where young people want to see a change in male representation: joyful fatherhood, the courage to ask for help, and vulnerability as strength.
Fatherhood was the single most requested portrayal of masculinity. Nearly 60% of young people specifically asked to see more fathers who openly show love and truly enjoy parenting. They want to move away from the “bumbling dad” or the “distant disciplinarian” toward active men, those who are affectionate participants in their children’s lives.
In a world where men’s mental health is often sidelined, 46% of respondents want to see stories where men seek help, especially for their mental well-being. Instead of the individual who seeks to solve everything alone and eventually crashes under the immense pressure, they desire to see men who look for assistance by forging new partnerships or leaning on already strong relationships. Depending on others when you’re down is a mark of resilience.
Rather than seeing emotions as a liability, Gen Z and Gen Alpha see them as a tool for connection. They are looking for male characters who can express fear, doubt, and kindness without losing their hero status.
They want to identify with people who have character, depth, and passion. Real men.
The shift toward connected masculinity isn’t about being “woke”, it’s a sign of psychological safety. The CSS report notes that young people today rank safety and kindness as their top values. In a world shaped by global uncertainty and digital harassment, they are seeking media that feels steady, grounded, and protected.
When 64% of men in the real world feel that “no one really knows them” according to a 2023 survey by Equimundo, the stories we tell matter. By centering narratives on a father’s love or a mentor’s vulnerability, storytellers can provide a blueprint for a healthier, more hopeful future.
The so-called “male loneliness epidemic” has been fuel for lots of misogynistic viewpoints and even helped impact our current political climate. However, it was always a myth invented by social media influencers to validate their own bigotry. Their bad behavior and petulant attitudes caused their loneliness by driving away anyone with empathy.
What has held many men back is the ridiculous idea that showing compassion, especially to each other, is somehow a sign of effeminence or even homosexuality. When those things are then demonized, it creates an environment where men are afraid to show affection for others because they risk their social clout.
Now, younger people are looking for media portrayals that can fill that void and depict the way they’re seeking to interact with their own loved ones. They recognize that empathy and compassion are signs of strength and want to see heroes who display those qualities.
Blaming loneliness on “woke” while ignoring your own actions was always going to fizzle out in the long-run.
The data is clear: to ignore these findings is to stay out of step with the next generation of viewers. Young audiences are already gravitating toward shows and films that offer uplifting stories and relatable characters.
As the CSS report concludes, Gen Z and Gen Alpha aren’t asking for the absence of strength. They are asking for a more comprehensive portrayal of resiliency, one that includes the wisdom to ask for help and the joy found in caring for others.
It’s time for the “strong, silent type” to finally start talking.
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