The Looksmaxxing Trend: A Deep Dive into the Extreme Pursuit of Male Attractiveness
In a world where appearance matters, the pursuit of perfection has taken a dark turn. Looksmaxxing, a trend targeting young men, is pushing the boundaries of what's considered acceptable in the name of attractiveness. From extreme diets to surgery and drugs, young men are going to extreme lengths to alter their physical appearance. But what are the consequences of this dangerous obsession with looks?
The Rise of Looksmaxxing
Looksmaxxing began in the shadows of internet forums, where young men blamed their perceived failures on their looks. Now, it's making its way into the mainstream, fueled by social media influencers and the so-called "self-help" industry. Experts like Simon Copland, a sociology researcher at the Australian National University, warn that this extreme pursuit of attractiveness is becoming more prevalent.
"The rise of social media and the rise of social media influencers have played a significant role in that," says Dr. Copland. "Young women have always been the focus when it comes to appearance and body image, but now the so-called 'self-help' industry has started targeting young men as well."
Insecurities Exploited
Zac Seidler, a psychologist specializing in men's mental health, explains that looksmaxxing influencers use pseudoscience to exploit young men's fears and insecurities. "There is very little emotionality in much of this [looksmaxxing] content," says Dr. Seidler. "It is, 'This is black and white. This is how it is,' and so that takes hold. That is a strong grip that is very hard to challenge."
The Problem with Hierarchy
Looksmaxxing creates a hierarchy of attractiveness, which can be toxic. "I think looksmaxxing is a very hyper-masculine term," says Raven. "Looksmaxxing just reinforces very terrible stereotypes about what men should be and what they shouldn't be, so I think it's just not good for anyone."
The Game of Mogging
One example of the extreme lengths young men are going to is the Omoggle website, which turns the pseudoscience of looksmaxxing into a game. Users are matched with a random person, their face is scanned, scored, and ranked, with the winner 'mogging' and the loser 'mogged'. This raises concerns about the impact on young people's mental health, as it reinforces the idea that there is a solution to their appearance issues, but the goalposts keep moving.
The Subjective Nature of Beauty
Despite the dangers of looksmaxxing, it's important to remember that beauty is subjective. "One of the things we should look back on is that what it means to be a good-looking person has changed throughout history," says Dr. Copland. "It's entirely subjective, and we all have good looks in different kinds of ways, and so the better thing is to focus on what works for you, rather than believing in some particular perfect ideal."
In conclusion, the looksmaxxing trend is a dangerous obsession that exploits young men's insecurities and creates a toxic environment. It's important to remember that beauty is subjective and that focusing on what works for you is more important than conforming to unrealistic ideals. As Ruby and Lola, both 17, say, "Everyone's unique and beauty's unique. Beauty cycles through all different stuff, too. So, it's never going to be the same, either. I think you need to take yourself for who you are and just love yourself either way."
