Do social media influencers or social standards have an impact on guys? 

“Young males often define themselves as invincible to push back their fears and feelings,” counselor Daniel Harrison said.

Building on Harrison’s insights, junior Kikoa Indalecio shares his perspective on setting personal goals that could seem unrealistic.

“If I have a priority of things to do throughout the day, then I would realistically need to get those things done,” Indalecio said. “For example, if I had to work out at eleven in the morning and eat and have my protein right after, then that’s what I have to do. But, like to someone, it may seem unrealistic, but they have never done it before, or they don’t take the training seriously as I did.”

Over-accomplishing tasks can lead to unmotivation; Indalecio tries to avoid this.

“You see all these influencers and people who work hard do crazy amounts of workouts every day. When that’s really an unrealistic expectation for a student-athlete, you wouldn’t be able to accomplish those, and I can see myself, especially other people, doing that too,” Indalecio said. “I try not to do that just because it will eventually get me down, I guess, and I’m not motivated to do it again because I know I failed, and I don’t like failing at all.”

Failure.

What does that truly mean to a person, especially for guys?

“It’s like setting a goal you know you can’t achieve, but you’re just getting close to it,” sophomore Houston Bowlin said. 

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, studies show that when people strive to meet unattainable goals, they experience overwhelming negative emotions.

“Unfortunately, our society’s reliance on social media often distorts what healthy self-esteem really is and should look like,” Harrison said. “We listen to influencers who don’t know us and who only care that we push ‘like’ to increase their payday.”

Considering social media’s influence, it’s important to recognize the broader societal standards that impact individuals of all genders.

“Everyone, no matter their gender or age, will struggle at times with self-esteem issues,” Harrison said. “Some choose to ignore or try to cover up those feelings, while others can wallow in self-pity.”