Looksmaxxing: The Growing Pressure on Teen Boys to “Optimize” Their Appearance
- The White Hatter
- Mar 16
- 10 min read
Updated: Apr 11
Caveat - This is a supplemental article to two articles we wrote last year on this topic, “The Rise of Looksmaxxing and How Teen Boys See Themselves” (1) and “Social Media and Body Image Challenges - A Growing Concern for Teen Boys As Well” (2).
For many years, conversations and concerns about body image and unrealistic beauty standards have focused primarily on girls (3). Parents, educators, and researchers have spent decades examining how advertising, celebrity culture, and social media influence how young women feel about their bodies. Those conversations are important. However, there is another side to this issue that receives far less attention, some teen boys are struggling with body image as well.
Research examining adolescents across multiple countries found that about one-third of boys report dissatisfaction with their bodies, with rates in some studies reaching over 40 percent (4). Yet, there are far fewer conversations, resources, or support systems directed toward them compared to girls. As a result, many boys are left to navigate these pressures largely on their own, often turning to online communities for guidance. That is where a growing online trend known as “looksmaxxing” has begun to take hold.
“Looksmaxxing” (sometimes written as “looksmaxing”) is an online influencer trend where young men attempt to maximize their physical appearance in order to become more attractive. The term originally emerged in internet forums focused on dating and male self-improvement. Over time it has spread widely across platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Reddit, and Discord. Looksmaxxing even has dedicated websites where users gather in discussion forums to talk about different aspects of appearance improvement, ranging from grooming and fitness to facial structure and perceived attractiveness (5).
At its core, the concept starts in a fairly normal place. Many videos and posts encourage behaviours that most parents and caregivers would consider healthy such as:
Improving skincare routines
Exercising regularly
Getting better sleep
Maintaining good hygiene
Addressing acne or other skin concerns
Developing personal style
In other words, the early message is often about self care and self improvement, which can be positive when approached in a balanced way. However, in some online spaces, looksmaxxing quickly shifts from healthy self improvement into something far more intense.
One of the defining features of the online looksmaxxing culture is how appearance becomes reduced to highly specific measurements and standards. Rather than simply encouraging someone to be healthy or confident, many communities promote the idea that attractiveness can be broken down into precise physical traits that must be optimized.
In many online looksmaxxing communities, appearance is often broken down into a set of measurable traits that young men are encouraged to analyze and “optimize.” What begins as normal curiosity about grooming or fitness can quickly turn into a form of constant self evaluation where every feature is scrutinized. Teen boys in these spaces are often encouraged to judge themselves based on characteristics such as:
Jawline shape and definition
A strong or “chiseled” jawline is often portrayed as one of the most important markers of male attractiveness. Some creators claim that a defined jawline signals strength, dominance, or higher social status. This has led to an entire stream of advice videos suggesting ways to enhance or reshape the jawline. Suggestions range from harmless ideas such as improving posture and maintaining healthy body fat levels, to questionable practices like excessive “jaw exercises,” chewing hard substances to supposedly strengthen the jaw muscles, or even discussing cosmetic procedures, something knows as "hardmaxxing". For impressionable teens, this can create the belief that their natural facial structure is a flaw that must be corrected.
Eye angle and symmetry
Another commonly discussed trait in these communities is eye shape and angle. Influencers sometimes refer to “hunter eyes” versus “prey eyes,” terms used to suggest that certain eye shapes convey confidence, dominance, or masculinity. Young men may be encouraged to examine their faces in mirrors or photos, comparing subtle differences in eyelid position, eye spacing, and facial symmetry. In some forums, even minor asymmetries are framed as significant disadvantages. The reality, of course, is that almost every human face has some asymmetry, but repeated exposure to these discussions can lead teens to overanalyze features that most people would never notice.
Muscle size and body fat percentage
Fitness is another central focus within looksmaxxing culture. While exercise and physical activity are positive habits, the messaging in some online spaces shifts the goal from health to appearance optimization. Rather than encouraging strength, endurance, or general wellness, the emphasis becomes achieving a specific aesthetic ideal, often a highly muscular build combined with extremely low body fat. Images circulating in these communities frequently feature fitness influencers whose bodies may be shaped by intense training, strict dieting, favourable genetics, professional photography, or sometimes performance-enhancing drugs. Teen boys comparing themselves to these images may feel they fall short, even when they are perfectly healthy.
Skin texture and quality
Clear, smooth skin is another feature frequently emphasized. Influencers often promote detailed skincare routines designed to achieve what they describe as “perfect skin” something commonly known as "softmaxxing". Advice may include cleansers, exfoliants, serums, and supplements. Some of this information can be helpful, especially for teens dealing with acne. However, in more extreme spaces the message can shift toward perfectionism, where any blemish, pore, or redness is treated as a flaw that needs to be eliminated. For adolescents already navigating hormonal changes that affect their skin, this kind of messaging can add unnecessary pressure.
Height and physical frame
Height is one of the most rigidly discussed characteristics in looksmaxxing circles. Some creators argue that height strongly influences dating success, social status, and perceived attractiveness. Charts, rankings, and comparisons circulate widely online, sometimes suggesting that men below certain heights face major disadvantages in relationships or social life. For teen boys, height can be particularly sensitive because it is largely determined by genetics and development. Messages that frame height as a defining factor of personal value can lead to feelings of insecurity or helplessness about something that cannot realistically be changed.
When teens encounter these discussions repeatedly online, appearance can begin to feel like a set of performance metrics rather than a natural part of who they are. Instead of focusing on overall health, confidence, and personal growth, young people may start believing that success in life depends on meeting a narrow list of physical standards. Helping teens understand that online beauty metrics are often exaggerated, unrealistic, or designed to generate views and engagement is an important step toward building healthier self perception. When young people are repeatedly exposed to these rigid criteria, appearance can begin to feel less like a natural part of growing up and more like a scorecard of physical metrics that must be perfected, something commonly known as your "Sexual Market Value" (SMV). The pretext.....the higher your SMV, the higher the likelihood of having sex.
In some online looksmaxxing communities, the focus on measurement goes even further. Certain forums encourage users to upload photos of themselves to be rated by strangers, often on a numerical attractiveness scale (6)(7). Users may receive comments such as:
“You are a 5 out of 10 right now.”
“Your jawline is weak.”
“You need to reduce body fat to improve your score.”
The stated goal becomes improving that number through various forms of self modification. For teenagers whose identities are still developing, this type of environment can create a powerful negative feedback loop where self-worth becomes tied to anonymous online evaluations.
There is nothing inherently wrong with wanting to look good. Caring about appearance is a completely normal part of adolescence. Teenagers have always experimented with clothing, hairstyles, fitness, and grooming as they figure out who they are. The concern arises when improvement turns into constant self-surveillance and comparison. In more extreme looksmaxxing spaces, young men may begin to view their bodies not as part of who they are, but as a project that must be endlessly optimized. Over time, this mindset can contribute to several mental and physical health concerns.
One of the risks associated with intense appearance focused communities is body dysmorphic thinking . Body dysmorphia occurs when someone becomes fixated on perceived physical flaws that others may barely notice or not see at all (8)(9). For boys influenced by extreme looksmaxxing content, this fixation may involve:
Believing their jawline is “wrong”
Feeling their body is never muscular enough
Obsessing over small facial asymmetries
Constantly comparing themselves to influencers or edited images
What begins as a desire to improve appearance can evolve into chronic dissatisfaction with one’s body, even when there is nothing objectively wrong.
Another concern is the rise of unhealthy eating and exercise patterns among boys attempting to reach unrealistic physical standards. Some teens may begin:
Strict dieting to reduce body fat
Excessive exercise routines
Skipping meals
Obsessive calorie tracking
The goal often becomes achieving the ultra lean, highly muscular physique commonly displayed by fitness influencers online. However, many of those images are influenced by lighting, filters, editing, or performance enhancing drugs, realities that are rarely discussed openly with younger audiences.
Perhaps one of the most serious risks linked to extreme appearance culture is early interest in performance enhancing drugs. Research shows that body dissatisfaction and muscularity concerns are strongly associated with the use of performance enhancing substances among adolescent boys. Studies have found that boys who are unhappy with their bodies are more likely to consider anabolic steroids, and that muscle dysmorphia is closely linked to steroid use and other muscle-enhancing drugs (10). In certain online communities, teenagers are exposed to discussions about:
Steroids
Peptides
SARMs (Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators)
Testosterone boosters
These substances can have significant health risks, especially for adolescents whose bodies are still developing. What makes this particularly concerning is that many teens encounter these conversations through influencers or anonymous forums rather than medical professionals especially when it comes to the new fad of bio-hacking, to increase performance, through substances like nicotine (11).
Another important aspect for parents and caregivers to understand is that much of the looksmaxxing content circulating online is not simply casual advice. In many cases, it is part of a content economy of the manosphere (12). Some creators build large audiences by presenting themselves as experts in appearance optimization. They may promote:
Fitness programs
Supplement stacks
Grooming products
Online coaching courses
Paid communities
The messaging often follows a familiar marketing pattern; identify a perceived insecurity, reinforce the importance of fixing it, and offer a product or program as the solution. For teenage boys who are still developing confidence and identity, this type of messaging can be highly persuasive.
It is important not to panic when parents hear terms like looksmaxxing. Not every teenager watching grooming tips or fitness videos is being drawn into unhealthy behaviour, the key issue is balance and perspective. Young people need to understand that appearance is only one part of who they are. Character, kindness, skills, humour, creativity, and resilience matter far more in the long run than the angle of a jawline or the symmetry of a face.
Parents and caregivers can support boys by keeping the conversation open and grounded. Some helpful approaches include:
Normalize the Conversation
For many boys, talking about body image can feel uncomfortable because society often frames appearance concerns as something that primarily affects girls. As a result, boys may worry that admitting insecurity about their body makes them weak or less masculine. Parents and caregivers can help counter this by openly acknowledging that concerns about appearance are a normal part of adolescence for everyone. Teenagers are going through rapid physical changes, navigating social comparisons, and trying to figure out how they fit into their peer groups. Letting boys know that it is completely normal to care about how they look can reduce shame and make it easier for them to talk about what they are experiencing. When the topic is treated as a normal part of growing up rather than something embarrassing, teens are more likely to seek guidance instead of turning only to online advice.
Discuss How Online Images Are Curated
One of the most important digital literacy skills young people can learn today is understanding that much of what they see online is carefully curated. Images and videos rarely represent everyday reality. Many influencers use professional lighting, strategic camera angles, photo editing tools, filters, and even cosmetic procedures to create an idealized appearance. In the fitness world, images can also be influenced by dehydration techniques before photos, temporary “muscle pumps” from exercise, or the use of performance enhancing substances. Helping teens understand how these factors shape what they see online can reduce the pressure to measure themselves against unrealistic standards. When teens realize that the images they are comparing themselves to are often carefully engineered presentations rather than normal day to day appearances, it becomes easier to maintain perspective.
Focus on Health Rather Than Perfection
Encouraging healthy habits is always valuable, but the motivation behind those habits matters. When fitness, nutrition, and grooming are framed solely around appearance, teens may begin to believe that their worth depends on achieving a certain look. A healthier approach is to focus on well being rather than perfection. Exercise can be presented as a way to build strength, reduce stress, and support mental health. Sleep can be discussed as essential for mood, learning, and physical recovery. Nutrition can be framed as fuel that supports energy and growth. By shifting the conversation away from achieving a “perfect” body and toward building a healthy lifestyle, teens are more likely to develop sustainable habits and a balanced relationship with their bodies.
Promote Multiple Sources of Self-Worth
Adolescence is a time when young people begin building their identity, and that identity should never rest on a single characteristic such as appearance. Parents and caregivers can help teens develop a broader sense of self worth by encouraging them to explore different interests and strengths. Sports, music, art, technology, volunteering, academic pursuits, and creative hobbies all provide opportunities for young people to discover what they enjoy and where they excel. Strong friendships and meaningful connections also play a critical role in shaping confidence. When teens see themselves as someone who is kind, capable, creative, or hardworking, appearance becomes only one small piece of their identity rather than the central measure of their value.
Stay Curious Rather Than Judgmental
When parents and caregivers first hear terms like “looksmaxxing,” or other online trends related to appearance, the instinct may be to react with concern or criticism. While those reactions are understandable, they can sometimes shut down the conversation before it really begins. A more effective approach is to remain curious. If your teen brings up these topics, ask open ended questions about what they have seen online and what they think about it. Listening first helps build trust and gives parents a clearer understanding of how their child is interpreting the content. Often, teens themselves are still trying to make sense of what they are seeing. By approaching the conversation with curiosity rather than judgment, parents create a safe space for discussion and can help guide their child toward healthier perspectives.
Teen boys today are navigating many of the same appearance pressures that girls have faced for years, but with far less public discussion about the issue. Online trends like looksmaxxing highlight a larger reality. Young men are increasingly exposed to narrow definitions of attractiveness and success that can shape how they see themselves.
The goal is not to dismiss self improvement or confidence. Wanting to take care of oneself is healthy. The goal is to help young people understand that their value as a person cannot be reduced to a jawline, a body fat percentage, or a number assigned by strangers on the internet.
Healthy self confidence comes from something far deeper than that. It comes from knowing that who you are matters far more than how perfectly you fit an online standard.
Digital Food For Thought
The White Hatter
Facts Not Fear, Facts Not Emotions, Enlighten Not Frighten, Know Tech Not No Tech
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