Viral goodnight calls on TikTok are showing the softer side of masculinity

What if I told you some of the toughest guys on the internet are tucking each other in at night

You said what? I said I just wanted you to have a good night, bro. Like, just a sweet dream

Hold that thought. I said hold that thought. Why are the people doing this, Dio

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Am I not liked? And you're loved

Just needed a second because you were a crone-ass man. it's a trend that took tiktok by storm most clips are filmed by a partner showing the man

calling their friends to say good night and even the nfl has hopped on board i was just calling to

tell you good night my g i can't tell you good night hey no you can't tell me good night and

while it's played for laughs it's also a sign of something deeper challenging masculine ideals

A psychology professor told USA Today that calling to check on your friends as a man often goes against traditional masculine norms which is why these reactions are all the more priceless But it happening at a time when data from Gallup shows younger men in the U

are among the loneliest in the world as compared to their counterparts, in part tied to economic struggles and personal well-being

And the loneliness isn't just about being alone. A 2024 poll from National Research Group found 43% of men aged 13 to 30 say they don't know what it means to be a man today

But maybe friendship is the starting point. A 2023 Pew Research study found 61% of Americans say having close friends is the key to a fulfilling life

8% of Americans reported having zero close friends, while 38% said they had more than five

So maybe it's not just a bedtime call, maybe it's a wake-up call back to brotherhood some men never realized they needed

With Straight Arrow News, I'm Kennedy Felton. Download our app or visit san.com for more