The trend of looksmaxxing has gained popularity among young men, mostly those in the manosphere and red pill circles.
It began with encouraging guys to take care of themselves, eat well, work out, and boost their confidence. What could possibly be bad about that?
The trend has taken a bizarre turn, especially when a new influencer, Branden Peters, gained prominence.
The whole movement seems to be spiraling into a dangerous obsession with looks, which leads young people to experiment with some very risky methods.
1. The Rise of Clavicular
Branden Peters (better known as Clavicular) is a 20-year-old man who is currently the face of the looksmaxxing movement.
He started out as an obscure figure on TikTok but has recently gained a massive following online.
Clavicular took the message of self-improvement and twisted it into something unrecognizable.
He openly speaks to his young audience about using prescription meds, steroids, substances, and dangerous cosmetic procedures without medical supervision.
His audience of mainly underage boys and incels idolize him and see his methods as necessary.
The common rationalization is that they have to resort to these extreme methods because “females” drove them to it with their high standards.
The looksmaxxing movement is being called out in every reasonable corner of the internet by people who hope to protect the young minds from Peters’s negative influence.
2. Self-Experimentation
Clavicular’s obsession with looks has led him to experiment with drugs and procedures that should only, if at all, be done by professionals.
He’s been using steroids since the age of fourteen, which has rendered him infertile – something he seems to take lightly.
He’s also planning to get the painful leg lengthening surgery to add a centimeter or two to his height. He reasons that it will impact his “presence.”
His reckless attitude makes his audience take these looksmaxxing methods just as lightly, with many of them being too young to fully grasp the consequences.
Self-experimentation like this causes permanent damage, both physical and mental.
In the end, it doesn’t truly help with confidence, which Clavicular proves by continuing to be completely socially inept despite his good looks.
3. The Red Pill and Looksmaxxing
The red pill movement started out with similarly positive goals as looksmaxxing.
It aimed to promote men’s rights, raise awareness about men’s mental health, and help them navigate relationships.
Over time, it’s been hijacked by numerous bizarre characters and is currently shutting down.
From the inside, the movement that was meant to help men has corrupted itself and become a laughing stock online.
Similarly, looksmaxxing has stopped being about men sharing helpful advice and more about competing and “mogging” one another.
The quest for confidence was turned into an unhealthy obsession with looks and getting ahead of other men.
4. The Impact on Underage Boys
The most disturbing aspect of this is that both looksmaxxing and the red pill attract a young audience of boys and men who buy into these ridiculous ideas.
Especially those who follow Clavicular tend to support his reckless behavior and try to emulate him.
This is incredibly risky since they lack the experience and maturity to understand how dangerous most of these messages are.
They’re being pushed into dangerous territory as these influencers exploit their impressionable nature.
Not to mention, the attitudes these young men are developing toward women are downright terrifying.
5. The Illusion of Confidence
At the core of looksmaxxing lies the idea that by looking your best, you become more confident and successful.
Pretty privilege is definitely a thing, but good looks alone don’t make for an attractive person.
No amount of cosmetic procedures and drugs can replace genuine self-esteem, and Clavicular is the proof.
He speaks about his difficulty connecting with others, especially women, and even reveals that talking to people poses a challenge to him.
Sounds confident?
The truth is actually completely different. Obsessing over appearance leads to anxiety and body dysmorphia.
True self-improvement can’t be skin-deep.
This confusing message is dangerous, as it might only perpetuate mental health issues and dysfunctionality in young men.
6. Extreme Self-Optimization
The looksmaxxing craze reflects a wider cultural problem that affects both genders: our obsession with beauty and youth.
Social media glamorizes unrealistic beauty standards, pushing young people to chase impossible ideas.
This creates a cycle where they feel inadequate unless they undergo extreme measures.
Clavicular’s influence takes this to an even crazier length, pushing young people into administering prescription drugs by themselves.
It fosters insecurity and anxiety, and makes men want to outperform each other at any cost.
7. A Call for Awareness
All over the internet, creators are calling out harmful looksmaxxing methods through concern and through humor.
However, these trends thrive in echo chambers, so they need to be addressed in person.
Friends and family need to pay closer attention to what young men and boys are going through and offer compassion and understanding.
Social media platforms must crack down on influencers who openly promote drug use and health-ruining methods.
Teaching young people about actual confidence is also necessary.
It’s gained through resilience and maturity, not expensive clothes and procedures.
Only by promoting healthy, realistic self-improvement can we help young men truly feel good about themselves.
A little Aquarius, devoted to writing and embroidery. Through my writing, I hope to empower readers to align with their true selves and navigate life’s mysteries with confidence.