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The Conversation
The Conversation
Marten Risius, Adjunct Senior Fellow, School of Psychology, The University of Queensland

How ‘looksmaxxing’ self-improvement apps are marketing misogyny to young men

TikTok incel
Manuel Arias Duran / Getty Images

A theory about male “sexual market value” that began in online manosphere forums is now appearing in the TikTok feeds of Australian teenagers — repackaged as AI-powered “looksmaxxing” apps.

The idea is closely tied to the incel (“involuntary celibate”) subculture. These are loose online communities of mostly young men who believe they are unable to form romantic or sexual relationships with women.

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