How "Looksmaxxers" are Influencing Youth

If you have interacted with a teen boy or a young man in the past year, there is a strong chance you have heard the terms “looksmaxxing,” “mogging,” and “chad.” Popular on the “manosphere” (male-centered online communities) side of the internet, “looksmaxxing” influencers promote the pursuit of physical attractiveness (with peak physical attractiveness being synonymous to “mogging”). “Looksmaxxer” influencers often take extreme measures to improve their perceived attractiveness, such as intense exercise, grooming, and plastic surgery. These influencers document their daily lives online and have a global outreach; In a 2025 study, an estimated ⅔ of young men in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia engaged with masculinity influencers on a regular basis (1). 

Recently, the “looksmaxxing” movement has gained the attention of mainstream not only for its virality, but also for the movement’s association with popular influencers, such as Clavicular and Androgenic. In early July, Connor Murphy-- a friend of Androgenic, a 32-year-old body builder, and “looksmaxxing” influencer-- died after an apparent drowning in Thailand. Prior to his drowning, Murphy displayed increasingly erratic behavior, including but not limited to, trashing the luxury villa he rented outside of Bangkok. 

Bizarrely, Androgenic has linked his friend’s death to liquid gold injections, which can be readily purchased online through websites like Amazon and eBay. Although these injections have no known health benefits, Murphy reportedly believed that injecting liquid gold would enhance the color of his skin and give him superpower abilities not accessible through traditional medical treatment. It is possible that Murphy experienced gold toxicity. This toxicity, which is usually only obtained through occupational mining exposure, can cause altered mental states, like confusion, delusion, and psychosis (2). 

It is not uncommon for “looksmaxxers” to go against science; In early 2026, Clavicular told The New York Times that he took an extensive regimen of drugs to “bio-hack” his body with a focus on having a strong jaw, really big muscles, and clear skin. Clavicular’s list included testosterone (3). In men, testosterone replacement therapy is indicated in those with clinically diagnosed hypogonadism (decreased testosterone activity in the gonads). However, when inappropriately used (or over-used), testosterone can cause sterility, lower sperm count, and shrunken testicles. Testosterone is strongly contraindicated in men who plan to conceive or be fertile in the future; Yet it is one of the most popular drugs used by young men to “looksmaxx” and is sold by gyms, online platforms, and messaging applications without needing a prescription from a doctor. 

Fertility health knowledge, while extremely important, is often misunderstood, especially in young men. In a 2015 study surveying men ages 18-50, less than half of the men studied were able to identify health issues associated with male infertility (4). Moreover, sexual reproductive health is not a topic adequately taught in schools, with one study finding the number of schools teaching sex education is declining (5). Other concerns in teenage boys include the rising prevalence of body dysmorphia, poor mental health, and undeveloped media literacy skills. 

“Looksmaxxing” influencers promote products promising maximizing aesthetic appeal and targeted towards young men and boys looking for a self-help guide to improve their lives. For example, Androgenic sells a $49 per month membership that promises access to “pharmacological intervention to optimize brain function (learning efficiency, fear extinction, social confidence,)” “detailed information about peptides and androgens,” and “all-inclusive guides on training and nutrition” (6). In an age where you can buy a product on the same screen you watch an advertisement on, brand sponsorship is extremely valuable. Teen boys and young men, especially those who are already insecure about their appearance, are a perfect target for influencer advertising. Although the exact number of people who have purchased Androgenic’s “looksmaxxing” membership is unknown, the influencer has roughly 257,000 followers across platforms like Tiktok, X, and Instagram, with a vast majority of Androgenic’s followers being male. 

There is no one solution to quell the influence of “looksmaxxing,” however, addressing education deficiencies, such as providing crucial media literacy to challenge unrealistic beauty standards, access to scientific studies and sex education, could be a start. Moreover, it is critical that teen boys and young men have a safe space to express their insecurities and learn self-acceptance. Bringing awareness to programs such as the Crisis Text Line and The Trevor Project, which provide free, confidential help to those in need of counseling, is crucial in mitigating the risks associated with pursuing “looksmaxxing.” Additionally, more oversight is needed to regulate the purchase of so-called “look-enhancing” drugs, such as testosterone, which are becoming more readily available through “telehealth” services. 

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ABOUT THE WRITER

Ashley Pearson

Contributing Clinical Writer

Ashley Pearson is a Doctor of Pharmacy candidate at Midwestern University with interests in patient education, accessibility, and geriatric populations. She has been a Contributing Writer for Remember Magazine since July 2026.

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References

1. Fisher, Rice, Seidler. Young Men’s Health in a Digital World. Movember Institute of Men’s Health; 2025. 

2. Loesche K. Connor Murphy: The truth about gold injections, why doctors used them and why experts warn against it. 7NEWS. Published July 17, 2026. Accessed July 20, 2026. https://7news.com.au/news/connor-murphy-the-truth-about-gold-injections-why-doctors-used-them-and-why-experts-warn-against-it-c-22585977 

3. Bernstein J. Looks Aren’t Everything? Clavicular Begs to Differ. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/style/clavicular-looksmaxxing-braden-peters.html. Published February 13, 2026. Accessed July 20, 2026. 

4. Daumler D, Chan P, Lo K, Takefman J, Zelkowitz P. Men’s knowledge of their own fertility: a population-based survey examining the awareness of factors that are associated with male infertility. Hum Reprod. 2016;31(12):2781-2790. doi:10.1093/humrep/dew265 

5. Szucs LE, Harper CR, Andrzejewski J, Barrios LC, Robin L, Hunt P. Overwhelming Support for Sexual Health Education in U.S. Schools: A Meta-Analysis of 23 Surveys Conducted Between 2000 and 2016. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2022;70(4):598-606. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.05.016 

6. Biggs T. Who Is Androgenic, the Australian Looksmaxxer from Clavicular’s Disastrous Stream?; 2026. Accessed July 20, 2026. https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/who-is-androgenic-the-australian-looksmaxxer-from-clavicular-s-disaster-stream-20260416-p5zoc0.html