‘Looksmaxxing’ influencers peddle pseudoscientific hacks

Online trend pushes unproven techniques to boost appeal

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Hankering for a chiselled jawline, a male TikTok influencer strikes his cheekbones with a hammer highlighting the rise of "looksmaxxing," an online trend pushing unproven and sometimes dangerous techniques to boost sexual appeal.

Looksmaxxing influencers - part of an online ecosystem dubbed the “manosphere” have surged in popularity across social media, capitalising on the insecurities of young men eager to boost their physical attractiveness to women.

In posts across TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, they promote pseudoscientific methods to achieve everything from pouty lips to chin extensions and almond-shaped “hunter eyes,” often while monetising their popularity by endorsing a range of consumer products.

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