News "Why incel social media accounts are encouraging young people towards extreme looksmaxxing procedures" - New study documents normification of buckpill

[Oneitiscel]

Why 'incel' social media accounts are encouraging young people towards extreme 'looksmaxxing' procedures

A new study carried out by cybercrime and gender experts at the University of Portsmouth has revealed that incel social media accounts are rebranding to bypass bans and appeal to wider audiences on TikTok.

phys.org

A new study carried out by cybercrime and gender experts at the University of Portsmouth has revealed that incel social media accounts are rebranding to bypass bans and appeal to wider audiences on TikTok.

The research, published in Crime, Media, Culture, explored how incel content has spread from niche online spaces to mainstream platforms. The team analyzed 25 months of data from four looksmax.org posts, eight Incels.Wiki pages, 23 accounts and 332 videos from TikTok, and a selection of hashtags and views metrics from the social media platform.

The "Digital Subcultural Diffusion Theory" traced how content and language originating in "incel" forums migrated to TikTok, by accounts repackaging misogynistic and racist content to appear less extreme.

"Younger and vulnerable users are particularly susceptible to this approach, which shapes their attitudes and beliefs," explained lead author Anda Solea, Lecturer in Cybercrime from the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Portsmouth.

"Platform algorithms, trending features, and viral content mechanisms supercharge this spread, exposing millions to harmful ideologies."

The study revealed several tactics used by account holders to hide offensive content, including replacing the term "incels" with "sub5s"—which refers to men or boys who view themselves as unattractive, rejected, or mistreated by women—and the use of incel-linked terminology like "looksmaxxing" and "PSL Gods" to gain popularity.

Meanwhile, hashtags linked to the incel community—such as PSL, pslgod, mogging, looksmaxxing, and mewing—have racked up billions of views on TikTok. Some, such as "pslgods," have hundreds of millions of views, while others, like "pslscale" are in the hundreds of thousands.

"Looksmaxxing" content on TikTok ranges from seemingly harmless beauty hacks—like using minoxidil to combat hair loss—to drastic and dangerous methods, including growth hormones to boost height, extreme cosmetic surgeries, and DIY "bonesmashing" techniques aimed at reshaping the face. The goal is for men and boys to surpass the "sub5" status and become attractive.

Anda Solea added, "The rebranding of the term 'incels' to 'sub5s,' coupled with the 'looksmaxxing' trend have made the association with the incel ideology more accessible and relatable, introducing it to young people who might not have had contact with the incel community before."

Co-author Professor Lisa Sugiura, Professor of Cybercrime and Gender at the University of Portsmouth, said, "These subtle yet clever strategies are intended to resonate with a wider audience, including those who may not be familiar with the complexities of incel ideology.

"The key issue is that social media platforms may not always be able to determine if it's being used in a hateful or bullying way. As platforms like TikTok continue to grow in popularity, greater efforts are needed to address the increasing presence of incel activity on such spaces."

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When it is all said & done, all who will remain in these spaces are edgy teens doing nothing but shitposting & poser influencers selling them their next theory.

 

[4sez]

When it is all said & done, all who will remain in these spaces are edgy teens doing nothing but shitposting & poser influencers selling them their next theory.

suifuel right here

 

[PolnischeKartoffel]

Do we encourage anyone?

 

[Grodd]

Do we encourage anyone?

They are talking more about looksfag.

 

[PolnischeKartoffel]

They are talking more about looksfag.

But looksfag isn't an inkell place, they're only using our terminology, but most of them are regular sexhavers or at least aren't permavirgins like us

They are promising miraculous treatment for inceldom

 

[DoomThreeKoala]

When it is all said & done, all who will remain in these spaces are edgy teens doing nothing but shitposting & poser influencers selling them their next theory.

Brutal. We are like nomads migrating across the steppes of the Internet.

 

[Puppet Master]

Within the next few years, looksmaxxing will be mandatory if you even want to be considered normal. What's extreme today will be considered standard procedure tomorrow.

 

[Oneitiscel]

But looksfag isn't an inkell place, they're only using our terminology, but most of them are regular sexhavers or at least aren't permavirgins like us

It doesn't even matter as to whether we are the ones spreading Lookism across the internet or not. Looksmax is ran by the same admin as this one, and that is where all the people finding out about it are heading towards. Being a sister site is going to have negative repercussions. The more demonized we get, the harder it is for us to have a sanctuary. Either we lose our platforms, or they get sanitized to oblivion.