The data is in: American men are not OK. According to a new report from the Institute for Family Studies, American men are increasingly struggling to maintain close friendships and are turning to screens – online gaming, pornography, gambling – instead. The report suggests that America’s young men are not just “checked out” – they are isolated, disillusioned and self-medicating in various unhealthy ways.
The situation is rapidly becoming a national crisis. Millions of American sons are transitioning to adulthood alone, in isolating apartments, with few trusted people to call. Conversely, there has been a documented increase in the number of young men returning to Catholicism and tradition over the past few years, suggesting that many young men recognise that their lives lack depth and purpose and are seeking healthy ways to address their inner loneliness.
According to IFS’s new report, 34 per cent of young American men have only one or two close friends, while one in 10 have no close friends. Fewer men are volunteering in their communities than in previous generations. Fewer than a third of young men participate in community faith groups, social clubs or sports leagues. These institutions – which used to help strengthen male friendship – are hollowing out, and nothing is stepping up to replace them.
The negative effects of what has been dubbed the “male loneliness epidemic” and withdrawal from society are likely being exacerbated by growing pessimism about American institutions and the economy.
For example, at least half of young men today believe that the American Dream is dead. And seven out of 10 men today believe that connections matter more than merit. Young men facing these seemingly impossible hurdles seem to be withdrawing from society altogether. Why build community or work hard if your efforts won’t be rewarded anyway?
Instead, many are turning to areas where they are more “successful”. Playing video games, for example, might help young men feel good or rewarded if they excel in a given game. It’s also an easy way to “connect” with “friends” online while playing. Perhaps this is why nearly 50 per cent of young men today play video games multiple times a day.
Similarly, the 42 per cent of young men who watch porn daily, or at least several times weekly, is likely both a byproduct and a deterrent to their dating success. Pornography satisfies their sexual urge for a time while removing the intimidating factor of interacting with women face to face.
Unfortunately, it is deeply damaging to them physically, morally and relationally. It’s worth noting that heavy porn users report higher rates of depression, loneliness and anxiety. And tragically, it’s incredibly addictive. And for most Catholic women, a man who uses pornography is a dealbreaker. Pornography alone offers a sobering glimpse into how the temptations and struggles of young men today build on one another to their destruction.
Sadly, it’s one of many factors signalling modern man’s distress. Across varying demographics – married, religious, conservative, liberal – young men are suffering from similar rates of loneliness and discouragement.
It’s not all bad news, however. These sobering trends are correlating with a massive religious revival among young men. A Gallup poll in April 2026 found massive increases in the number of young American men who believe that religion is “very important” to them. And over the past year, the Catholic Church saw historic rates of conversions nationwide, especially among young men.
This shift suggests that men know they are “not OK”, and that many are trying to do something about it. They are also becoming increasingly conservative. That they are returning to the faith and traditional values is an encouraging sign that the status quo may not be permanent. Ultimately, the spiritual and practical values of religion and conservatism are essential for young men hoping to transform their lives. For example, a whiny leftist mentality will not save young men from their current plight, and agnosticism will not free them from despair.
At the end of the day, young men today need to accept the cards that they've been dealt and do what every generation before them has done: stick their chins up, and work relentlessly to overcome the hurdles of their day-to-day lives. Trust in God, and acknowledgement that there is a higher purpose than their own ambition, is equally essential for helping young men regain their confidence and happiness.
Hopefully the faith-based institutions that many are turning to, especially the Catholic Church, step up to welcome them with open arms and seriously address the varying factors inducing despair among young American men.
