The Boys Are (Mostly) Alright

March 18, 2026 - 11:18

Each generation seems to harbor a deep-seated anxiety that its entertainment will corrupt the minds of young men. The cycle is a familiar one: a new form of media emerges, gains popularity with boys and teenagers, and is swiftly blamed for society's ills.

This pattern was evident in the early 2000s, following the era of fears that heavy metal music inspired Satanic worship. The focus then shifted dramatically to video games. Titles like Grand Theft Auto became cultural flashpoints, with commentators arguing that simulated violence and criminality in games would directly lead to a generation of delinquents.

Media personalities amplified these concerns to a fever pitch. At the height of the controversy, one prominent talk-show host famously lamented that such games were training boys to be killers and to disrespect women, nostalgically referencing simpler digital amusements of the past. These pronouncements framed interactive entertainment not as fantasy, but as a direct manual for immoral behavior.

Yet, decades later, the predicted collapse of decacy among young men has not materialized in the way these panics foretold. While debates about media influence continue, the apocalyptic warnings often reveal more about adult anxieties than they do about the resilience and discernment of youth. The boys, it seems, were mostly alright all along.