WASHINGTON (7News) — There’s a growing social media trend targeting young men and even teen boys — and experts say it could be taking a serious toll on their mental health.
It’s called “looksmaxxing.” The term refers to trying to “maximize” your appearance — sometimes through basic grooming, skincare, or fitness, but in more extreme corners of the internet, through dangerous practices like excessive exercise, steroid use, extreme dieting, or even so-called “bone smashing,” where young people are told to hit their face or jawline to change their bone structure.
The trend started in online male-dominated spaces and has become more visible on platforms like TikTok, where appearance-focused content is reaching boys and young men at increasingly younger ages. Some reports have found boys as young as 10 being pulled into appearance-optimization content online.
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But an adolescent psychologist says the bigger concern is what this constant focus on “fixing” yourself can do to a young person’s self-worth.
For many teens, social media already creates a daily cycle of comparison — the perfect body, the perfect face, the perfect jawline.
But with looksmaxxing, experts say the pressure can intensify.
7News’ Adrianna Hopkins spoke with a child psychologist who says the trend is often rooted in unrealistic — and often Eurocentric — beauty standards, with some online communities obsessing over things like jaw size, facial symmetry, the distance between facial features, or how “masculine” someone appears.
And while some of the advice may seem harmless — like skincare, working out, or improving style — the more extreme side can include excessive exercise, restricted eating, steroids, unregulated supplements, and other risky attempts to change the body.
“Anxiety, significant anxiety, low self-esteem the anxiety is centered around this preoccupation with appearance and perfecting their appearance. And because it’s such an unrealistic beauty standard there’s never content or satisfaction with their appearance,” said Children’s National Hospital, child psychologist Dr. Ashley Maxie-Morman.
She says that constant dissatisfaction can lead to eating-disordered behaviors, body image issues, and a belief that who you are matters less than how you look.
And unlike traditional self-improvement, looksmaxxing can reinforce the idea that personality, kindness, and real connection don’t matter as much as appearance.
“The priority is not about personality it’s really focused on looksmaxxing,” she said.
So what should parents watch for?
Experts say pay attention if your child suddenly becomes obsessed with their appearance, starts exercising excessively, restricts food, loses a lot of weight quickly, or begins taking supplements or chemicals to change their body.
The psychologist says the goal is not to shame them — but to open the door to an honest conversation.
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“If parents are noticing that their teen is preoccupied with their appearance beyond what feels normative for a teen, excessively exercising, restricting eating behaviors, losing a significant amount of weight in a short amount of time I think it’s important to really have a direct conversation and not an accusatory conversation.”
She also says parents should start early by being mindful of how they talk about their own bodies, their children’s bodies, and other people’s bodies.
And when kids are online, she says parents should ask how the content makes them feel — anxious, worried, sad, or confident — so young people can start thinking critically about what they’re seeing.
“Just have conversations with your kids about the things that they see online. Process with them how they feel about those things Do you feel anxious after? Do you feel worried after? Do you feel sad? Do you feel happy?”
Dr. Maxie-Moreman says if parents notice major changes in behavior, eating habits, exercise routines, or supplement use — especially in young boys — it may be time to check in more seriously or reach out to a mental health professional.
The bottom line: wanting to look your best is not the problem. The concern is when young people start believing they are never enough as they are.