Young men who identify with the " manosphere " — an online movement promoting toxic masculinity and misogyny — are being promised a better life and a higher "sexual market value" by becoming more attractive through "looksmaxxing."

The online trend comes with its own lingo, significant costs — and a good dose of pain. Looksmaxxing influencers are promising isolated young incels , or involuntary celibates, that they can get better jobs and attract more sexual partners though a rigorous diet ("starvemaxxing"), plenty of steroids and weights, plastic surgery and a jawline made more angular with a hammer to the face ("bonesmashing").

Looksmaxxing content on social media promotes questionable and painful procedures promising male beautification.…