When Strength Becomes a Performance: The Radicalisation of Modern Masculinity

There are moments in culture where silence becomes complicity. This is one of them.

Headlines regularly flare like signal fires—whispers of scandal, courtroom dramas, public figures undone by their own mythology. But this post isn't about trials. It's about what fuels the fire.

A new form of masculinity is being peddled, broadcast, and monetised online. It's not forged in hardship or tempered by virtue. It's a costume—an algorithmic illusion. A theatre of strength.

Masculinity, once cultivated over time through discipline, honour, and mentorship, is now performed for clout. The louder the bravado, the higher the engagement. The more extreme the behaviour, the more magnetic the influence.

The Algorithmic Mirage

Scroll through any social feed aimed at young men, and the narrative is unmistakable: If you don't earn six figures by 25, you're a failure. If you don't drive the car, wear the suit, own the girl, you're not a man.

They preach: Speak like a gangster. Act like a tyrant. Never show weakness.

It's the digital echo of the Mutra subculture—once confined to Eastern Europe, now globalised. Think Bulgarian mafia chic meets Instagram hype: dark sunglasses, gym-built aggression, and a disdain for humility. This isn't just about fashion; it's a display of superficial dominance through intimidation and wealth.

But this isn't fashion. It's indoctrination.

These messages are disseminated by a parade of influencers—slick-talking, self-styled life coaches, often flaunting designer labels, exotic cars, and an endless stream of podcast soundbites that conflate confidence with cruelty. They are not just selling products. They are selling identities.

Radicalisation Without Religion

We must call this what it is: the quiet radicalisation of a generation of men. Not through scripture or politics—but through podcasts, Reels, and short-form bravado.

Young men, many without strong role models, find in these influencers something that looks like strength. A creed. A brotherhood. A voice that says, Be feared. Take control. Show no mercy.

But it is a house built on sand. What masquerades as confidence is often insecurity weaponised. What is framed as leadership is closer to narcissism in designer shoes.

And the consequence? It is profoundly real.

Collateral Damage: Women, Family, and Society

This isn't just about lost boys. It's about the harm done in their wake. Women become trophies or threats. Family becomes weakness. Compassion, a liability.

Violence is normalised. Responsibility is mocked. Every relationship becomes transactional.

Mental health suffers. Data shows escalating rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm among young men—many of whom are caught between societal contempt and influencer delusion. They are sold dominance as a cure for despair. It does not deliver.

The Other Extreme: Misandry in Disguise

But let us not pretend the reaction from society is always fair or proportionate. Sometimes, in the zealous effort to dismantle harmful stereotypes, we inadvertently create another problem: misandry in disguise.

This manifests as rhetoric that paints all strength as toxic, treats all men as ticking time bombs, and dismisses the genuine pain and confusion felt by many young men. It's sexism wearing virtue's mask, and it's equally unhelpful in fostering healthy masculinity.

We cannot fix one extreme by swinging to another that denies men their legitimate struggles or the positive aspects of masculine traits.

What Real Strength Looks Like

So, what does real strength look like? It's not a performance for applause, but a quiet commitment to principle.

It is discipline, not domination. It is the strength to control oneself, to delay gratification, and to pursue excellence not for external validation but for internal growth.

It is courage, not provocation. The courage to protect the vulnerable, to stand up for what's right even when unpopular, and to face one's own fears rather than project them onto others.

It is masculinity as a calling, not a costume. A calling to be a protector, a provider, a mentor, and a steadfast presence in a chaotic world. It's built on integrity, empathy, and a deep sense of responsibility.

Closing: The Cultural Trial

Masculinity is not on trial. Society is.

We face a critical moment. Our challenge isn't to mock, cancel, or idolise, but to educate, mentor, and rebuild. We must guide young men away from the siren song of the algorithmic mirage and towards a masculinity that is genuinely strong, truly honourable, and deeply human.

This requires parents to engage, educators to adapt, and men to lead by example. Each of us has a role to play.

—Dusty Wentworth