Many social media influencers copy one another, which sucks when it’s unhelpful or disingenuous drivel.

I see “How to be a Man” lists on Twitter all the time. They’re always regurgitated tropes or stereotypes that are at best superficial & irrelevant, but often are condescending & demeaning.

Follow: @BryanKrahn

You can list off healthy foods or money saving tips but manhood is COMPLICATED.

It’s influenced by your upbringing, values, life experiences (good and bad) and what you want your legacy to be — if you even think that way.

Whether you can change a tire or how you take your coffee doesn’t say shit about masculinity or character.

Interestingly, a few former fitness influencers have shifted into full fire-spitting, hard AF “manhood guru.”

None of them gained legitimate traction in the fitness world, mainly due to a basic lack of real-world experience.

So they basically recreated themselves, and used tactics combined with a TON of posting to “flood the zone” with the made-up narrative they’re hard, real men who kick life in the ass.

The reality is they’re living two lives, real and online, but the online life — the all-knowing guru — is a total fabrication.

Most see through the facade, even appreciate it as a brand building game, but young people aren’t as discerning. Which is disturbing and a little scary.

Young people are drawn to earnest authenticity but can be led down the wrong path. So they’re easier marks for the “authentic charlatan.”

Now if the worst thing is they get motivated to get up at 5 a.m. and lift weights and avoid porn, great.

But if it leads them to see people with different priorities as inferior, or those who change their mind or apologize as weak, or women as subservient, or even go full-on rape apologist?

That’s fucked up.

Bottom line? We’re all just figuring things out as we go. Any internet guru who has all the answers to complex questions (in an easy-to-list format) is just another huckster.

Be better. Do better.

– Bryan