A trend known as “looksmaxxing” has drawn attention due to influencers who have utilized the extreme grooming, fitness, and occasionally extreme cosmetic practices associated with the subculture.
In a new set of resources, the Child Mind Institute discusses why such extreme self-improvement routines can have a negative impact on boys’ self-esteem and mental health.
Learn More
“Looksmaxxing” has become a trend due to the practices of popular online influencers, who have used extreme measures such as “bone smashing” to try to alter their facial structure. There has also been a rise in social media content that encourages teenage boys to engage in self-improvement routines to meet a narrow and exacting standard of attractiveness.
The trend, which has been around for nearly a decade and stems from the belief that women choose romantic partners based on physical traits alone, can be especially damaging to young boys during puberty.
The Child Mind Institute’s resources examine how “looksmaxxing” affects boys and how to help teens navigate current beauty standards. Clinicians have raised concerns that the trend can exacerbate certain mental health disorders – such as body dysmorphic disorder – in teenagers.
The resources also include information on how social media use can lead to self-doubt in teens and how to monitor what they are doing online, while also respecting their independence. There is also a piece on the challenges of early adolescence and how to help boys build confidence during that time.
The Child Mind Institute’s resources include:
