Dalhousie University professor looks at dangers of ‘looksmaxxing' trend

CTV News

04-06-2025

A Dalhousie University sociology professor is exploring the dangers of the 'looksmaxxing' trend among young men.
Michael Halpin was the lead author of the study 'When Help is Harm: Health, Lookism and Self-Improvement in the Manosphere,' which explored more than 8,000 message board posts in an online looksmaxxing community that receives six million unique visitors per month.
''Looksmaxxing' means maximising one's physical appearance to attract partners and receive the social benefits that accompany being attractive,' the report reads. 'We argue that looksmaxxing harms the physical and mental health of the men and boys who participate.'
The study found members of the online community suggesting tactics such as 'mewing' (pressing the tip of the tongue against the roof of the mouth) and 'bonesmashing' (deliberating causing small injuries so the bones grow back stronger and more pronounced).
'We argue that this practice is tethered to hegemonic ideas about male beauty, both in terms of the aggressive name of the practice and that men are physically harming themselves to appear more manly,' the report reads. 'Furthermore, men who practice bonesmashing would experience health consequences (e.g., bleeding, bruising, and soft tissue damage) as they are explicitly aiming to damage their bones to shape their appearance.'
Other users discussed surgical alterations such as leg lengthening, rhinoplasty, jaw surgeries, brow ridge shaving and fat removal.
'The research found that it can lead users to feel demoralized or like failed men, with some being encouraged to self‐harm or even end their lives,' the report reads.
More to come…
For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page