Teenage Boys Are “Ascending” Online, But at What Cost?

On TikTok and YouTube, teenage boys are being told they can “ascend,” transform their faces, bodies and status, if they are willing to push far enough.

“Nothing could matter more than looking as good as possible, especially as a man,” Clavicular says in his stream.

What begins as gym advice and skincare routines can quickly lead to steroid discussions, cosmetic surgery content and extreme practices like “bone smashing.” Under the banner of self-improvement, looksmaxxing has evolved from a niche internet subculture into a mainstream algorithm-driven trend reaching millions of young users, including in Canada.

The conversation is no longer just about grooming. It intersects with adolescent development, digital influence and shifting standards of masculinity in the social media era.

Who Is Clavicular?

Clavicular, born Braden Peters, is a 21-year-old influencer widely associated with looksmaxxing content on TikTok. He documents his physical transformation and refers to his evolution as an “ascension,” a term commonly used in these communities to describe becoming a higher-status, more attractive version of oneself.

In recent months, his profile has expanded beyond grooming content. He has been linked to controversy, including a livestream in which he appeared to strike a pedestrian while driving a Tesla Cybertruck. Separate footage circulated online showing him chanting lyrics from a Kanye West song referencing “Heil Hitler,” alongside figures such as Andrew Tate and Nick Fuentes.

Clavicular has also stated that he entered looksmaxxing communities at age 14, an age that researchers note is critical for identity formation and body image development.

What Is Looksmaxxing?

Looksmaxxing, short for “maximizing looks,” originated in the early 2010s on forums such as PUAHate, SlutHate and Lookism. These spaces ranked men according to facial symmetry, height and bone structure, often framing attractiveness as directly linked to dating success, financial opportunity and social hierarchy.

By the 2020s, the concept had migrated to TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, where short-form transformation videos accelerated its reach.

Influencers typically divide looksmaxxing into two categories:

Softmaxxing:

  • Skincare
  • Haircuts and grooming
  • Exercise and diet
  • Posture and fashion

Hardmaxxing:

  • Anabolic steroids
  • Cosmetic surgery (jaw fillers, rhinoplasty)
  • Leg-lengthening procedures
  • Chemical teeth whitening
  • Extreme facial manipulation techniques

While softmaxing overlaps with conventional self-care, experts note that online content often blurs the line between maintenance and medical intervention.

Extreme and Risky Practices

Some practices promoted within hardmaxxing spaces raise medical concerns.

Mewing, maintaining specific tongue posture to influence jawline shape,  circulates widely online, though clinical evidence supporting significant structural changes remains limited.

Bone smashing involves repeatedly striking facial bones in hopes of stimulating bone remodelling. Medical professionals warn that this can result in fractures, nerve damage and long-term complications.

Other promoted interventions include:

  • Anabolic steroid use
  • Dermal fillers
  • Double jaw surgery
  • Leg-lengthening procedures
  • At-home hydrogen peroxide teeth whitening

Dental professionals warn that improper peroxide use can damage enamel and gums.

In one TikTok clip, Clavicular discussed steroid use and surgical procedures as part of “ascending.” In another, he claimed he had become infertile at age 19, raising concerns among viewers about the potential physical costs of experimentation without medical oversight.

Bonemashing

Bonesmashing is done by repeatedly tapping the chin, cheekbones, and jaw with a hammer. (Or some recommend a massage gun.) The goal, in theory, is to cause minor damage to the underlying bone, which will change the shape of the face as it heals to give you a squarer face, a stronger jawline, or a more pronounced chin. 

Bonesmashing is big enough that doctors have sent at least two letters to the Journal of Stomatology, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, warning about the practice’s spread on social media. 

“No procedure is recommended for growing patients,” says Dr. Grillo.

Despite these warnings, videos demonstrating the technique have circulated widely on TikTok and other platforms. Comment sections often show a mix of alarm, skepticism and endorsement, reflecting the divided reaction among viewers.

Algorithms and Escalation

Engagement-driven algorithms can intensify exposure. Once users interact with fitness or grooming content, platforms may recommend increasingly extreme material.

A 2024 study by researchers at Dublin City University created fake teenage boy accounts and reported that TikTok and YouTube feeds were quickly “bombarded” with male supremacy and misogynistic content after initial engagement with fitness-related videos.

Concerns about online radicalization have also entered popular culture. The Netflix crime series Adolescence depicts a 13-year-old boy accused of killing a female classmate after consuming misogynistic online content, reflecting broader anxieties about digital ecosystems shaping youth behaviour.

The Manosphere Overlap

Looksmaxxing overlaps with online communities often referred to as the “manosphere,” a loose network of male-centric groups that can include misogynistic narratives and rigid hierarchies of male worth.

Researcher Anda Solea of the University of Portsmouth has stated that incel ideology is being reframed on TikTok under the language of self-improvement. Her research suggests some accounts avoid moderation by shifting from explicitly hateful language to appearance-focused messaging.

In these spaces, physical attractiveness is sometimes framed as the primary determinant of romantic success and respect.

The Psychological Dimension for Teen Boys

Research in recent years has documented increasing body dissatisfaction and muscle dysmorphia among adolescent boys.

Visual platforms amplify curated physiques and transformation narratives, reinforcing narrow standards of masculinity. When transformation is framed as “ascension,” the implication is that the current self is insufficient.

For 14-year-olds navigating identity formation, repeated exposure to such messaging may influence self-perception.

In Canada, where youth mental health access remains an ongoing policy concern, the intersection of digital culture and male body image is becoming a topic of growing discussion among educators, clinicians and parents.

A Growing Concern

Looksmaxxing sits at the intersection of:

  • Algorithm-driven content
  • Monetized self-improvement culture
  • Male body image pressure
  • Online subcultures tied to hierarchy

While some aspects resemble traditional grooming and fitness culture, the escalation toward extreme modification and ideological overlap has prompted increased scrutiny.

“You don’t see a lot of these things until someone else points them out, and then you can’t stop seeing them,” said a source who requested anonymity. 

For many teenage boys, the pressure to “ascend” begins long before adulthood, shaped not just by peers, but by algorithms.

An Ongoing Conversation

Looksmaxxing reflects a broader shift in how self-improvement is shaped by social media. What begins as grooming or fitness advice can, in some spaces, escalate into extreme physical modification and rigid standards of appearance.

As visual platforms continue to amplify transformation content, understanding how algorithms, monetisation and online communities influence young users becomes increasingly important. Conversations around body image should include boys as well as girls, particularly as muscularity and facial aesthetics become central markers of online status.

Distinguishing between evidence-based health practices and unverified online techniques remains essential. As research evolves, education and critical thinking are key to helping young people navigate appearance-driven content responsibly.

Resources

For readers seeking more information on adolescent mental health, body image concerns or digital literacy, the following organizations provide research, guidance and support:

If appearance-related concerns are affecting daily life, consulting a licensed medical or mental health professional is recommended.