Swedish experts warn of dangerous 'looksmaxing' trend encouraging self-harm and steroids among young men
Researchers say a growing 'looksmaxing' subculture in Sweden pushes boys to fracture their faces and use steroids to boost status, raising health and safety concerns.
A subculture called 'looksmaxing' is gaining popularity among Swedish youth, urging participants to engage in extreme body-modification tactics such as 'bonesmashing,' where they intentionally fracture parts of their face—often the jaw—to achieve a more defined chin during healing, sometimes using a hammer. The trend also glorifies anabolic steroid use to accelerate muscle development, with proponents framing these shortcuts as 'cheating the system.'
Magnus Kilger of Stockholms universitet highlights that the movement places disproportionate emphasis on facial aesthetics as a route to higher social status, diverging from traditional beauty trends. A recent MUCF report flags the spread of looksmaxing beyond the incel-originated manosphere, prompting Equality Minister Nina Larsson to commission a study on its impact on boys' mental health and attitudes toward suicide.
Legal expert Johanna Lindström notes that EU Digital Services Act obligations could force platforms to curb harmful content, and Sweden is considering age-gate restrictions for social media use. Authorities warn that the combination of self-injury encouragement and illegal substance promotion poses significant risks to young men’s wellbeing.
Why it matters
The trend links self-harm and illegal drug use to social status, posing a public-health threat to Swedish youth.
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