The Centre for Young Lives has published findings from a study exploring the impact of ‘looksmaxxing’, an online trend focused on maximising physical appearance popular with teenage boys and young men. The report investigates the impact of online masculinity content and ‘looksmaxxing’ through focus groups with 13–to-18-year-olds, expert interviews and undercover research on social media platforms. The report highlights how some boys are feeling pressured into extreme methods of changing their appearance; how harmful content is regularly embedded into every day social media feeds alongside fitness and lifestyle advice; and how ‘looksmaxxing’ content can be a gateway to misogyny and extremism. Recommendations include that Ofcom should formally recognise ‘looksmaxxing’ and harmful masculinity content as an online harm, and more support should be provided for schools to deliver high-quality lessons on masculinity, body image, and online influences.
Read the press release: Toxic “looksmaxxing” social media trend is pushing boys towards extreme body obsession, misogyny, and self-harm
Download the report: “Don’t blame life, blame your face” (PDF)
Source: Centre for Young Lives
Date published: 25 June 2026
