Men’s Digital Lives and Their Impact on Wellbeing

For Sexual Health Week we’re exploring how being chronically online is shaping our attitudes and behaviours around sex and relationships. In this blog, Dan Guinness, Managing Director of Beyond Equality examines how men’s experiences online influence their mental health, relationships and understanding of masculinity. 

Over the past decade, young men’s lives online have grown dramatically. From group chats and gaming communities to dating apps and discussion forums, digital spaces now shape how many connect, learn and form their identities. Algorithms tailor content in ways that often reflect and reinforce gendered experiences, while new online communities emerge around particular ideas of masculinity.

This rapid shift brings huge opportunities. Young men can access mental health resources, explore questions of identity and find communities where they feel understood. For many, digital spaces are a primary source of connection and information. Research supported by Movember shows that boys frequently turn to online platforms for advice about relationships, masculinity and mental health. These spaces can be hugely supportive, especially for marginalised boys searching for community and belonging.

But there are real risks. Algorithms can funnel users into extreme echo chambers, and over-reliance on digital spaces can isolate men from real-world relationships and support networks. This transformation ripples outwards, affecting men’s wellbeing, relationship patterns, rates of violence and even political discourse. The challenge is to help positive online networks thrive while tackling the pull of destructive content.

Below we explore some key ways men’s digital lives are shaping mental health and relationships—and how we can respond.

Pornography and Shifting Sexual Norms

Porn has never been more accessible. For some men, compulsive use disrupts relationships, sexual wellbeing and mental health. On a wider level, the sheer volume of porn consumed shapes collective ideas about sex, intimacy and gender roles.

Certain content reinforces unrealistic expectations and attitudes that harm both men and their partners. Men may face performance anxiety, body image concerns or feel pressure to pursue harmful behaviours. Partners can also be affected, especially in a climate where online misogyny is common.

Education and open, shame-free conversations about porn are essential to help men navigate their sexual lives in healthier ways.

Loneliness, Isolation and Emotional Connection

Despite being constantly connected online, many men report feeling profoundly lonely. As traditional forms of community decline, digital spaces have become stand-ins for face-to-face contact—but often without the depth needed for trust and emotional intimacy.

Social norms that discourage men from showing vulnerability compound this, leaving many struggling in silence. Supporting men to build real-world relationships and develop emotional literacy is vital to tackling this hidden crisis.

Dating and Intimacy in the Digital Age

Dating apps, online “pick-up artist” forums and even AI “girlfriends” are reshaping how men experience intimacy. These technologies can offer excitement and broaden opportunities for connection, but they can also encourage transactional views of relationships and reinforce harmful gender dynamics.

At their worst, they foster resentment and alienation. Helping men navigate dating with empathy and self-awareness can transform these experiences into opportunities for growth rather than sources of harm.

Positive Online Connections

Not all digital shifts are negative. For many men, especially those who face discrimination offline, online spaces provide safety and community they may not find elsewhere.

Young men exploring or discovering their sexual identity often rely on digital platforms to share experiences and build networks of care with people who understand them. These spaces show the potential for inclusive online communities to nurture wellbeing.

Where We Go From Here

Men’s digital lives are reshaping how we understand masculinity, mental health and relationships. Serious challenges remain, from online misogyny to growing loneliness, but there is also huge potential for positive change.

By combining Brook’s expertise in sexual health education with Beyond Equality’s work on gender and masculinity, we can foster spaces where men develop healthier relationships with themselves, others and their communities.

Understanding the forces shaping men’s online experiences is the first step towards building a culture that values wellbeing, equality and connection—both on and offline.