Looksmaxxing and the Dark Side of Modern Masculinity: Dangerous Trends Among Young Men

When a French newspaper leads with a headline about dangerous medications and hammer blows to the face, it’s effortless to scroll past as another sensational overseas trend. But the phenomenon it describes—looksmaxxing—isn’t confined to European feeds. it’s actively shaping conversations in high school locker rooms, TikTok comment sections and even guidance counselor offices across American cities like Chicago, where the intersection of social media influence and adolescent identity formation creates particularly fertile ground for such trends to capture root.

The core of looksmaxxing, as detailed in multiple reports from Agence France-Presse and Le Figaro translated through Google News, centers on young men pursuing extreme physical alteration in the name of attractiveness. Practices range from seemingly benign routines like dedicated skincare or haircare to far more hazardous interventions: self-administering testosterone shots, using dermal rollers (dermastamping) on facial skin, and the alarmingly named “bone smashing”—striking one’s own facial bones with objects like hammers or heavy tools in pursuit of a more angular, chiseled jawline. This isn’t merely about vanity; sources consistently link the movement to origins in online incel (involuntary celibate) forums, evolving into a broader manosphere-adjacent ideology where physical appearance is framed as a direct pathway to social power and romantic success.

Central to the viral spread of this trend is Braden Peters, a 20-year-old content creator known online as Clavicular—a pseudonym referencing the clavicle bone, which holds symbolic value in certain looksmaxxing circles. Peters’ content, which has amassed significant followings on platforms like TikTok and YouTube before facing bans, frequently promotes specific regimens. He has publicly stated in interviews (as reported by ABC News and The Guardian) that he uses testosterone alongside medications like dutasteride and minoxidil to combat hair loss, framing these as part of a holistic “ascension” toward an idealized masculine aesthetic. His rhetoric often employs the community’s distinctive lexicon—terms like “mogging” (asserting dominance through appearance) and referring to women as “foids” (a derogatory shorthand for “female humanoids”)—blending self-improvement advice with overtly misogynistic and, at times, extremist undertones.

The real-world consequences of this online ideology are beginning to surface in measurable ways. YouTube took decisive action in April 2026, terminating two of Peters’ channels—@LiveWithClav and @ClavLooksmax—for severe or repeated violations of its Community Guidelines, specifically citing access to prohibited or regulated goods. Mashable reported that Peters’ original channel had previously been removed in November 2025 for providing access to illicit substances, with the creator himself admitting to using drugs like crystal meth to maintain extreme thinness as part of his looksmaxxing regimen. These platform interventions underscore growing concerns that the trend isn’t just promoting unhealthy body image but potentially facilitating access to dangerous, unregulated substances and encouraging self-harm under the guise of self-optimization.

In a major metropolitan area like Chicago, where youth engagement with digital culture is exceptionally high—evidenced by robust participation in after-school programs at institutions like the Chicago Public Library’s YOUmedia centers and widespread smartphone leverage among teens navigating neighborhoods from Pilsen to the Near North Side—the risk of normalization is acute. Adolescents here, already navigating complex social landscapes influenced by both the city’s vibrant cultural offerings and persistent socioeconomic disparities, may be particularly susceptible to narratives promising quick fixes for insecurity through radical physical transformation. The trend’s emphasis on achieving a specific, often Eurocentric ideal of masculinity—frequently tied in manosphere discourse to white supremacist beauty standards, as noted in Mashable’s coverage of Peters’ associations—adds another layer of concern for communities striving toward inclusivity, such as those fostered by initiatives at the University of Chicago’s Civic Knowledge Project or local YMCA chapters.

Beyond the immediate physical dangers—hormonal imbalances from unsupervised steroid use, infections from non-sterile dermastamping, or permanent facial trauma from bone smashing—lies a deeper psychological toll. The relentless pursuit of an ever-shifting aesthetic ideal, fueled by algorithmic amplification and comparison culture, can exacerbate anxiety, body dysmorphia, and social withdrawal. This mirrors patterns seen in other appearance-focused subcultures but is intensified by looksmaxxing’s explicit linkage of physical change to tangible social and romantic outcomes, creating a potent feedback loop where perceived failure to “ascend” translates directly into feelings of worthlessness—a dynamic especially perilous during the formative high school and early college years.

Given my background in analyzing digital culture’s impact on adolescent development, if this trend impacts you or someone you know in Chicago, here are the three types of local professionals you need to consider—not as a quick fix, but as part of a grounded, sustainable approach to well-being:

• Adolescent Medicine Specialists with expertise in endocrine health: Seem for practitioners affiliated with major academic medical centers like Lurie Children’s Hospital or the University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital who specifically address hormone use, supplement safety, and the physical risks associated with performance-enhancing substances. They should offer confidential, non-judgmental consultations focused on long-term health over rapid aesthetic change.
• Licensed Clinical Psychologists (LCPs) specializing in adolescent male identity and media literacy: Seek providers with demonstrated experience in treating body dysmorphic disorder, low self-esteem tied to appearance, and the psychological effects of extreme online subcultures. Ideal candidates will integrate media literacy training—helping young men critically evaluate the algorithms and ideologies behind looksmaxxing content—into evidence-based therapies like CBT or ACT, and may be found through university-affiliated clinics (e.g., Loyola University Chicago’s School of Law Behavioral Health Consortium) or community mental health centers like those operated by Thresholds.
• Certified Nutritionists and Fitness Coaches credentialed by NSCA or ACSM with a focus on holistic development: Prioritize professionals who emphasize functional strength, balanced nutrition, and sustainable habits over aesthetic extremes. They should explicitly reject promotion of unregulated substances or dangerous practices like bone smashing, instead fostering environments where progress is measured in energy, mood, and functional ability—qualities championed by inclusive fitness spaces such as those run by the Chicago Park District or specialized studios like CrossFit Town Hall that prioritize community over comparison.

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