Online appearance advice can turn everyday insecurity into an escalating demand for bodily improvement. I joined Kyle Buchanan on feelgoodery for “The Dark Side of ‘Lookmaxing’ (And Why It’s Growing)”, released on May 7, 2026.
Our conversation examines looksmaxxing’s connections to incel culture, extreme beauty standards, and the pressures facing young men in an uncertain economy. We also discuss how algorithm-driven content can intensify comparison and encourage increasingly demanding forms of appearance optimization. These practices need to be understood in relation to the social expectations and online environments that make bodily change seem like a route to security, recognition, and control.
