Research Proposal - Early Adolescent Boys in Digital Youth Culture

Proposed Title

Early Adolescent Boys in Digital Youth Culture: Representations of Masculinity on TikTok

Outline of Topic

The research question guiding this project is: How is masculinity represented in TikTok videos targeted at early adolescent boys?

Adolescence is a formative period in which boys navigate expectations around emotion, appearance and behaviour, with digital media now a key site for identity construction (boyd 2014; Kimmel 2017). TikTok provides a highly visual and participatory environment where social norms are performed and reproduced through trends, sound, humour and influencer culture (Abidin 2021). While a substantial body of research has examined girls’ experiences of social media and body image (Ringrose & Eriksson Barajas 2011; Maes & Vandenbosch 2022), comparatively little attention has been given to how boys engage with masculine ideals in online spaces. Recent studies suggest that TikTok’s algorithm may amplify hypermasculine or exclusionary content, normalising narrow versions of masculinity (Dhoest 2025; Tanner & Gillardin 2025). Guided by Connell’s (2005) theory of hegemonic masculinity, this project aims to critically examine how masculinity is constructed in TikTok videos targeted at early adolescent boys, offering insight into how youth-oriented digital culture may reinforce, challenge or diversify contemporary understandings of masculinity.

Proposed Method

My research project will adopt a qualitative multimodal content analysis to examine how masculinity is represented within TikTok videos. This approach is appropriate because TikTok communicates meaning through a combination of visual, auditory and textual elements. This framework will allow these elements to be studied in relation to one another, revealing how sound, movement, text and imagery work together to construct meaning (Jewitt 2009). This analysis will look beyond language alone to include how tone of voice, camera angle, transitions and visual aesthetics contribute to the portrayal of masculinity. Analysing how these modes interact will allow me to explore how masculine traits and identities are constructed and circulated on the platform. A sample of TikTok videos will be selected based on algorithmic visibility, trending hashtags and creators with substantial adolescent followings. The sample will focus on videos likely to be viewed by boys aged 12–16, using metadata such as hashtags, sound and trending audio choices and content categories commonly linked to adolescent male-typed interests. Both the content (what is represented) and the form (how it is represented through editing, performance and sound design) will be analysed to capture the full multimodal nature of TikTok communication. This sampling strategy ensures the videos reflect both the content most visible on TikTok and the types of masculine portrayals most likely to be encountered by adolescent boys. A coding framework will then be developed to identify recurring portrayals of masculinity, drawing on Connell’s (2005) theory of hegemonic masculinity. This framework aligns with previous social media studies that have successfully used qualitative coding to identify patterns of gender representation (Dhoest 2025; Tanner & Gillardin 2025). Unlike these studies however, this project will incorporate multimodal analysis to account for TikTok’s visual and auditory complexity, offering a more nuanced approach to meaning-making. Codes will capture traits such as toughness, emotional control, competitiveness and dominance, as well as alternative portrayals that may challenge these norms. Contextual details such as creator demographics, video length and use of humour or trends will also be recorded to situate each video within TikTok’s participatory culture. Once coded, I will analyse the data thematically to identify patterns in how masculinities are represented, reinforced or subverted across the sample. This multimodal qualitative method provides the most suitable approach for this topic because it captures how masculinity is constructed through the unique blend of sound, text, gesture and imagery that defines TikTok. By combining Connell’s (2005) sociological framework with Jewitt’s (2009) multimodal principles, the study will produce an in-depth understanding that purely linguistic or quantitative methods could not achieve.

Summary of Relevant Literature

Literature has shown that digital culture plays a significant role in shaping how young people form their sense of identity, but much of this research has centred on girls’ experiences rather than boys’. Studies have particularly focused on how beauty ideals and body image are reinforced through social media platforms (Ringrose & Eriksson Barajas 2011; Maes & Vandenbosch 2022). For instance, Maes and Vandenbosch’s longitudinal study found that adolescent girls who frequently used appearance-focused platforms like Instagram and TikTok experienced higher body dissatisfaction over time. This type of gendered focus highlights a clear gap: while recent studies have begun examining boys’ engagement with masculine content online, the breadth and analytical depth of this work remain limited compared to the extensive research on girls’ digital experiences. Research on boys has tended to focus on gender construction in offline contexts, such as school or peer group settings, rather than within digital environments (Kingsman 2023). This leaves limited understanding of how masculinity is represented and circulated in social media spaces. Boyd (2014) highlights that adolescents engage with social media within overlapping social environments - from peers and family to broader networks - which shape how they interpret and participate in online interactions. These intersecting influences are especially significant when considering platforms such as TikTok, where participatory culture and algorithmic design influence what young users see and share.

TikTok has become a central platform in youth culture, known for its participatory nature, algorithmically driven visibility and rapid short-form video format (Abidin 2021). These features have created what Abidin describes as a new ‘attention economy’ where algorithmic design influences which ideas gain traction (Abidin 2021). Recent studies have raised concerns about how this system amplifies hypermasculine or ‘manosphere’ content. Dhoest (2025) analysed hundreds of TikTok videos and found that hegemonic masculine traits such as dominance, stoicism and control are frequently prioritised by the algorithm, sometimes leading viewers towards more extreme and exclusionary content. Similarly, Tanner and Gillardin (2025) examined the rise of the ‘sigma male’ trend, where humour and aggression are blended to promote individualism and emotional detachment. These studies suggest that TikTok’s structure may contribute to the normalisation of aggressive or exclusionary masculine ideals, making it crucial to study how these messages appear to young male audiences.

Connell’s (2005) theory of hegemonic masculinity provides a useful framework for this project. Connell argues that dominant masculine traits such as toughness, self-reliance and heteronormativity legitimise men’s social dominance while marginalising alternative masculinities. However, masculinity is not uniform. Kingsman (2023), in her qualitative research with Australian teenage boys, found that participants often balanced traditional values with progressive ones. Many expressed pride in emotional restraint while also valuing openness and responsibility. These findings suggest that boys’ understanding of masculinity is complex and evolving, with competing ideals often coexisting rather than replacing one another. Applying Connell’s framework to TikTok will help identify which portrayals reinforce dominant norms and which might challenge or subvert them.

The Australian context adds further cultural relevance to this study. Public concern about young people’s online exposure has led to the implementation of a national ban preventing under 16s from accessing social media platforms (Eapen & Campbell 2025). Eapen and Campbell (2025) describe this as a precautionary measure to protect youth wellbeing amid growing mental health concerns. The Movember Institute of Men’s Health (2025) also highlights these issues, reporting that two-thirds of young Australian men aged 18–24 regularly follow influencers who discuss masculinity-related topics. These followers often endorse more traditional masculine ideals such as emotional control and self-reliance and are more likely to experience poorer mental health outcomes. Although Movember’s research focuses on young adults rather than adolescents, its findings underline the potential influence of online masculine content on developing identities.

In summary, the current literature reveals a clear imbalance in how gendered digital experiences are studied. While much research has examined adolescent girls’ engagement with social media, far less attention has been given to representations of masculinity in content aimed at adolescent boys. Existing studies indicate that TikTok’s algorithm and participatory culture may amplify narrow or hegemonic masculine ideals, yet the depiction of these ideals within content targeting adolescent boys remains underexamined. This project will address that gap through a multimodal qualitative analysis, contributing new insights into how masculinity is constructed and circulated within the TikTok media environment.

Reference List

Abidin C, 2021, ‘Mapping internet celebrity on TikTok: Exploring attention economies and visibility labours’, Cultural Science Journal, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 77–103.

boyd d, 2014, It’s Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens, Yale University Press, New Haven.

Connell RW, 2005, Masculinities, 2nd edn, Polity Press, Cambridge.

Dhoest A, 2025, ‘From manosphere to mainstream: Representations of masculinity on TikTok’, International Journal of Communication, vol. 19, pp. 2201–2220.

Eapen V & Campbell DE, 2025, ‘A precautionary approach to social media: protecting young minds in an evolving digital world’, Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 223, no. 5, pp. 195–197.

Jewitt C (ed.), 2009, The Routledge Handbook of Multimodal Analysis, Routledge, London.

Kimmel, MS 2017, Manhood in America: A cultural history, 3rd edn, Oxford University Press, New York.

Kingsman J, 2023, ‘Negotiating masculine identities: Adolescent boys’ experiences of a school-based rites of passage program and its potential for gender transformation’, International Journal of Educational Research, vol. 122, Article 102257.

Maes C & Vandenbosch L, 2022, ‘Adolescent girls’ Instagram and TikTok use: examining relations with body image-related constructs over time using random intercept cross-lagged panel models’, Body Image, vol. 41, pp. 453–459.

Movember Institute of Men’s Health, 2025, Young Men’s Health in a Digital World, Movember, Melbourne.

Ringrose J & Eriksson Barajas K, 2011, ‘Gendered risks and opportunities? Exploring teen girls’ digitized sexual identities in postfeminist media contexts’, International Journal of Media & Cultural Politics, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 121–138.

Tanner S & Gillardin F, 2025, ‘Toxic communication on TikTok: Sigma masculinities and gendered disinformation’, Social Media + Society, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 1–12.