Alpha Males & Wattpad Tales
A teenage rite of passage for many people in the Gen Z community is the fanfiction platform Wattpad. Endless libraries of stories organized by ships, genres, spice levels, originals, poetry, and even non-fiction. Got something for everyone. One trendy genre is the Omegaverse. Alphas, Omegas, and Sigmas meet under the moonlight skies to serve drama. The unexpected thing is that, years after I tucked away memories of my initial steps into self-published literature and deleted the app, I'd hear all those terms again. But in the most unexpected place- self-improvement podcasts for men. How interesting, wouldn't you agree?
The Wolf Man, Erin Darling, Darling Illustrations
To the uncultured, Wattpad originally was a safe space shared by readers and writers to test and explore unconventional dynamics of human interaction, uninhibited by the typical rules of gender, sexuality, or social norms. We can see that, especially in the Omegaverse. Granted, some of it revolves mainly around kinks and thematic smut. However, one cannot knowingly ignore the complex evolution of the genre to a, sometimes problematic, mirror that reflects real-world dogmas on power, masculinity, and dominance. An interesting turn of events led me to look closer at this topic. Trending quotes and podcasts of male self-improvement gurus and enthusiasts had used terms that gave me deja vu. Terminologies and fantastical hierarchies from Wattpad had made their way from its niche roots to intersect with the social media-driven resurgence of hyper-masculine ideals, amplified by influencers like Andrew Tate. Spooky, huh?
The monumental Omegaverse can be simplified into the fundamental trope dynamics- Alphas, Betas, and Omegas. The characters are off one of these biological lineages or fall into these roles in the stories. To put it nicely, Alphas are often depicted as dominant, aggressive leaders with some temperamental quirks. They can impregnate Omegas. Fret not, for female Alphas are also a thing in the fandom. These female Alphas are also able to impregnate others. The biological specifications depend on the author. Moving onto Betas, the subordinates and biologically un-unique set of were-people. These lacklusters serve as the neutral middle ground, having traits of both dominance and submissiveness without being extreme in either direction. They may be the peacemakers between Alphas and Omegas. Depending on the work, Betas can mate with omegas. While some fanworks include them replacing the Omegas, they are usually omitted on account of their redundant role. On the flip side, Omegas are typically depicted quite differently. They're often seen as submissive, driven by an almost primal need for an Alpha's protection and control. In many depictions, omegas, regardless of gender, have the ability to become pregnant and experience heat cycles. Male Omegas, in particular, are frequently shown as vulnerable to fertility challenges, including the potential for miscarriages and complicated pregnancies. Physically, they are usually portrayed as the most delicate within the hierarchy, with frail bodies and painful experiences. You may have noticed that none of these character tropes have genders attached to them. The roots of this genre are deeply fixed in slash fiction and queer fanfiction, so it allowed the writers to reimagine gender dynamics, fluidity, and consent that appealed to communities exploring their own identities through creative writing.
With popularity comes dilution. As the Omegaverse's audience grew, it also morphed into something different from the initial aim of these creations. A universe noted for its binary and obsession with an almost primitive idea of power. In many stories, Alphas became exaggerated symbols of toxic masculinity, focused on dominance, control, and sexual conquest. What was once a space to push boundaries has now been at odds with a real-world resurgence of these very power dynamics in mainstream media and society.
This beloved trope remained confined to the walls of fandom literature platforms for a long time before it made its way into TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. The jump to the other side is complex. Usually, inter-social networking site growth rarely means a change in the meaning of a subject. For example, when Tumbler and Twitter's book communities grew to TikTok, their fundamental image remained unchanged. However, as the internet's obsession with "Alpha Male" culture surged—fueled in part by figures like Andrew Tate, who openly preach "traditional," often aggressive, ideals of manhood—the Omegaverse began to be co-opted by these very narratives. These influencers aim to project a rendition of masculinity ingrained in control, dominance, and superiority over others, particularly women. Sound familiar? That's because the Omegaverse, in some iterations, becomes an uncanny metaphor for this ideology, where Alphas rule with an iron fist, while Omegas are there to be conquered. What was once fiction began to resemble a hyperbolic reflection of the real world's obsession with 'alpha' dominance.
The unfortunate merge between the Omegaverse and the "alpha" male influencers forces us to confront a concerning turn of events. These men illustrate their "alpha-ness" by embodying ideals of superiority, misogyny, and manipulation and take pride in portraying themselves as such in a society they deem filled with men who don't conform to their specific version of manhood, who they like to refer to as "Betas." The striking resemblance between worldview and the fictional hierarchy raises questions about how fiction can introduce or reinforce problematic norms, even unintentionally.
The rage of the "alpha male" trend is held up by the same people I heard it from- teenage boys. Impressionable young minds eat up trends and talk like this. The Omegaverse experimented with expectations of relationships in ways that changed views. In a similar vein, influencers shaped the audience's perspective of what it means to be a "successful" or "strong" man. In both spaces, the message is clear: dominance is critical, and those who don't conform are weak. Wearing the "Alpha" tag signals that they have opted into this group fantasy packaged as motivational self-help content weaponized as a real-world ideology. The original Omegaverse writers' room allowed a playful exploration of power dynamics in a safe space. Meanwhile, the crossover into mainstream discourse—mainly through the lens of social media masculinity—twists its original purpose.
The core of this discourse is the question: Where do we draw the line between fiction and reality? It's easy to dismiss the Omegaverse as nothing more than a fantasy subgenre; to some degree, it is. The Omegaverse was created as a space for escapism, fantasy, and taboo exploration. It could be considered the first foray into the dark romance genre. As alluring as the genre may be, it may have fed into harmful real-world ideologies when certain aspects of this fantasy were taken too seriously by audiences lacking the critical lens to differentiate between fiction and reality. In a world that is predisposed to accepting beliefs on binary gender dynamics, the idea that some individuals are inherently inclined to dominate while others must submit is not just a kink or a trope. The intersection between fanfiction and the rise of alpha male influencers presents a broader cultural conversation about power, dominance, and how our entertainment shapes our worldview. These influencers use language and concepts derived from fictional tropes, already well known to the public, to sell their audience a real-world product: the Alpha Male persona. People are more inclined to believe when they hear things from what they already know; the intelligent move of sellers is to associate them with established phenomena to take advantage of their existing rapport.
The worrying change of the Omegaverse has led to the rise of a more pleasant counter-reaction. This genre has been interpreted and reclaimed by feminist circles. While its characteristic focus on dominance may seem inherently misogynistic, many authors use the Omegaverse to explore issues of consent, gender fluidity, and the subversion of patriarchal norms. In these stories, Alphas aren't always men, and Omegas aren't always weak. Some feminist writers even use the trope to comment on how restrictive traditional gender roles can be, whether in fiction or real life. This reclamation of the Omegaverse's core themes represents resistance against its co-opting by hyper-masculine figures, proving the genre's diversity and flexibility. Yet, it's a complicated space, balancing creative freedom and the risk of reinforcing toxic ideologies.
The evolution of the Omegaverse from Wattpad kinky fiction to a modern-day metaphor for alpha male culture illustrates a broader shift in how we think about power, dominance, and masculinity. As fanfiction becomes mainstream and niche tropes are co-opted by more significant societal trends, the line between fiction and reality begins to blur. The Omegaverse’s new iteration in the hands of influencers like Andrew Tate shows that while fanfiction may start as a creative outlet, its influence can ripple into arenas far beyond its original intent. What remains crucial is how we, as readers and consumers, interpret and engage with these evolving narratives. The power lies in our hands to separate fantasy from reality—and to resist the allure of toxic dominance. Ultimately, whether you identify as an Alpha, an Omega, or any other Greek alphabet, the real power is knowing when to close Wattpad and just live your life.
