Dangerous ‘looksmaxxing’ trend causing young Aussie men to smash their face with hammers
Australians have been warned about an online trend targeting young, savvy boys using dangerous substances and methods that could cause serious harm.
This trend, called “looksmaxxing”, targets adolescents and young men who are trying to improve their physical appearance.
The trend advocates drug use and surgery, with some turning to self-harm to alter their facial features.
Some men who participate in Lookmaxxing use the “bone crushing” method; They take a hammer and repeatedly strike their cheeks and jawbones, creating microfractures, which they believe can help reshape the face.
Nocturnal Ken, a 21-year-old from Queensland who participated in the bone-breaking action, ate 500 grams of sugar every day and wore make-up, said that he learned this controversial and dangerous method from the internet.
“A lot of people don’t understand how this works,” he told 60 Minutes.
“Bone fracture. What a scary term. What actually happens is a controlled mechanical application.”
“There is pressure on the bone tissue to grow.”
This trend first gained mainstream attention in 2023 and was introduced by popular American influencer Braden Eric Peters, who went by the nickname ‘Clavicular’, named after his favorite part of his body, the clavicle (collarbone).
The 20-year-old from Florida has taken the lead when it comes to enhancing her looks, resorting to breaking bones and using drugs like injecting steroids or taking methamphetamine to get the look she wants.
Clavicular, whose parents are former bodybuilders, claims he started taking steroids at the age of 14.
“There’s no reason for me to go to the gym and work out in any way other than the most efficient way with anabolic steroids. So it’s kind of like a cheat code,” he said.
However, these claims were denied by plastic surgeon Angie Taras, who described the practices as “shocking”.
Dr Taras said bone breaking was also a useless method of changing the shape of the face because it caused temporary swelling and bruising rather than permanently changing the shape of the skull.
He also argued that many of the before-and-after images used in appearance-maximizing posts were likely related to puberty and secret cosmetic treatments.
“Well, puberty has started. So their faces have changed, though,” he said.
“Sometimes… when they don’t talk about it, you wonder if they’re getting other treatments as well
about. So it could be a combination of both.
While Clavicular is best known for his dangerous and violent methods, he also promotes many views that have been labeled as misogynistic.
The influencer was arrested on a battery charge in South Florida in late March; police allege he and his 24-year-old girlfriend were involved in an attack on a 19-year-old woman at a rented property.
Police later determined he had “incited the fight” and filmed it and posted it online to “exploit two women”.
Clinical psychologist Zac Seilder said the max view trend was “really worrying” and “nihilistic.”
He said the online movement was “telling young people that life is hopeless” and that they cannot succeed in their careers, have a romantic partner or make friends without exaggerating their appearance.
“It’s all about winning and competitiveness, and unfortunately that leads to self-destruction,” he said.
Dr Seilder said the dangerous online trend provided an opportunity to uncover the psychology behind young men engaging in appearance maxxing.
“We know that many of them come from trauma backgrounds,” he told 60 Minutes.
“Like, what drives a 14-year-old to inject steroids, to use meth, to dismember himself with a hammer?”
He said young boys and men who followed in Clavicular’s footsteps were “victims” and in desperate need of empathy.
“They’re being played at a very tender age when all they want is to fit in,” he said.
“It is becoming extremely powerful thanks to our technology platforms.”
