Teen Boys React to Scenes from The Boys & Euphoria — & Aren’t Impressed By the Portrayal of Young Men

If you have a teen, media and television are likely a huge part of their life. Gen Z has more access to entertainment than any generation before them and more ways to access it than ever before, from social media platforms to streaming. (In fact, it’s estimated that by 2026, 80.7 millionAmerican households will have canceled cable or satellite subscriptions in favor of streaming services.) But regardless of how it’s delivered to us, we as a society have always loved — and been impacted by — our favorite shows and the media we consume. Teens are no different. But when it comes to how they see themselves portrayed in their favorite shows, does it ring true? And does it affect the way they think of themselves?

As part of SheKnows’ ongoing Be a Man series, we asked the editors at TVLine to pick three popular TV shows — Euphoria, Stranger Things, and The Boys — and then asked our panel of teen boys to share their thoughts on how teen boys and young men are portrayed.

In teen drama Euphoria, actor Jacob Elordi’s Nate Jacobs is, to put it light, toxic masculinity incarnate. The scene the boys watched sees Nate intimidating Hunter Schafer’s character, Jules Vaughn, a new girl in town who shows up to a party where she knows no one and crosses paths with the school’s most threatening bully.

The show does attempt to use Nate as an example of how someone’s traumatic childhood serves as a pipeline to dangerous hyper-masculinity. Yet, even this left the teens we talked to feeling distanced from Euphoria’s high schoolers.

“I think trauma is something everybody can relate to, but in this show [Euphoria] it’s kind of like exacerbated with everyone,” says 18-year-old Ajani. “It’s kind of a ‘maxed-out’ example of what high school is like for teenagers.”

The Boys is a dark, satirical take on the superhero genre with a subversive take on what the world would be like if superheroes, or “supes,” were real—and deeply flawed. As a parody of Superman, Homelander is exactly the opposite: an egomaniacal supervillain with a traumatic past who may be inflicting that same trauma on his son.

“It’s not really a healthy relationship,” says 17-year-old Jackson of the portrayal of the father-son dynamic. “There are a lot of times where Ryan feels unsafe around his dad.”

Stranger Things takes a different approach to male friendships. Following a group of teen boys who are attempting to save their town — and each other — from supernatural forces and secret government exploits, the show is rich in moments of tenderness and collaboration between male friends. Yet, even this is something our teens are not used to seeing.

“I have a younger brother and in our relationship it is not common to say the word ‘love,'” says Xavier, 17, after watching a scene in which Jonathan Byers offers his support to younger brother Will. “I feel like teens today, when going through something [find it] easier to isolate.”

So, did they identify with any of the male characters, or did those characters play into stereotypes that are clichéd and out of touch?

It turns out they were less than impressed with the accuracy of how young men were portrayed. “I’m not sure I identified with any of the characters in these scenes,” says Jack, 19 (not featured in the video), who thought all of them fell into typical stereotypes, such as overly aggressive or unrealistically emotional.

Such unrealistic portrayals matter more than we may realize. “Our research shows that media that perpetuates rigid gender roles and stereotypes can affect kids’ sense of self, relationships, and career aspirations,” Polly Conway, Head of TV, Senior Editor, Common Sense Media, tells SheKnows. “Media still frequently reinforces the idea that masculine traits are more valued than feminine, which can influence young viewers and have consequences for development in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.”

In fact, science tells us the brain keeps developing well into our mid-to-late 20s. This is especially true for the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for crucial decision-making skills. Since teenagers haven’t fully developed this part of the brain, they naturally lack the same level of cognitive control as adults. This lack of control makes them more susceptible to the influence of media portrayals, particularly those targeted toward their age group, which can have a significant impact on how teenagers think and behave.

The good news is that media representation is gradually shifting, with more complex and nuanced portrayals of masculinity emerging (after all, Gen Z stands out as the most aware of gender norms and their various deviations!). “It’s illuminating to see this panel of teenage boys recognize the characters and dynamics of Euphoria — which is contemporary and considered to be a less forgiving look at high school life — more so than the ‘touchy feely’ scene from Stranger Things, which is set in the Halcyon Days of the 1980s,” says Matt Mitovich, Chief Content Officer for TVLine. “It is reaffirming, meanwhile, to see these men of tomorrow identify the toxicity that oozes from The Boys‘ Homelander, one of the most polarizing TV characters of today’s landscape.”

But as always, there’s still room for improvement. That means depicting men in diverse roles, such as caretakers, emotional supporters, and those who realistically express vulnerability; showcasing men who are emotionally intelligent, kind, and respectful in their relationships; and including men from different backgrounds, ethnicities, and sexual orientations to reflect the reality of masculinity.

In the meantime, Common Sense Media has compiled a fantastic list of the best TV shows with positive role models for boys, ranging from ages 4+ to 14+ (find it here), as well as TV shows that defy typical portrayals of gender.

“Shows like Daniel Tiger for little ones and Stranger Things for older kids feature characters with counter-stereotypical behaviors and hobbies, showing a more sensitive side, or even managing their mental health in different ways,” says Conway. “Kids can be positively influenced by male characters that collaborate with girls, respect them as equals, demonstrate empathy and emotions, and resolve conflict in nonaggressive ways.”

By critically analyzing media portrayals and supporting content that challenges stereotypes, we can work towards a healthier, more inclusive understanding of masculinity … and still get some great TV out of it.

Watch the video to hear more from the boys and their critiques of the scenes.