Through social media, once-private desires are being made public. The problem, according to Evans, is that "although it appears as though we have moved forward, our desires are still mostly about money and strength." "This celebration of masculine capital is achieved through humor and the knowing wink, but the outcome is a reaffirmation of men's position in society," lead author Adrienne Evans from the Coventry University's Centre for Postdigital Cultures said in a statement. Pictures showing other representations of masculinity, such as fatherhood, and more emotional and awkward-appearing men were far less frequent. Items that indicated wealth such as smart suits, watches and phones were emphasized.
The photos and comments focused on the men's biceps, pecs and chest as well as perceived sexual ability. The "guy candy" posted on the website were mostly white men-despite London being a multicultural city-indicating that white male privilege is still an attractive quality. The study at Coventry and Aberystwyth universities in the United Kingdom, published in Feminist Media Studies in August, analyzed images over a period of three years since 2014. Muscles and money are qualities that straight women and gay men typically find attractive in men, according to an analysis of Tube Crush-a website where people post unsolicited pictures of men seen on the London Underground.