Was just reading about Looksmaxxing and the trouble Gen Z dudes are having with life.

[lognormal_guy@theforkiverse.com]

Was just reading about Looksmaxxing and the trouble Gen Z dudes are having with life.

This honestly bothers me more than the war with Iran. We've always had wars - but how are kids even supposed to grow up if this is reality?

(Though I'm always a little curious - is this reality? Or is it just a moral panic?)

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/03/opinion/gen-z-dating-clavicular.html?unlocked_article_code=1.QlA.sFu4.lnCkWm49Piof&smid=url-share

[lognormal_guy@theforkiverse.com]

Is it a compliment that I often learn about this stuff from @pj ? Gooning, peptides, heck, back in ReplyAll days you folks were the first I heard about QAnon. Thanks for breaking your brain a lot so I can just break mine a little?

[battlebrat@theforkiverse.com]

@Lognormal_guy Thank you for the access to the article. The young Gen Z’s I know date normally, maybe a few late bloomers…

[_elena@mastodon.social]

@Lognormal_guy I learned about looksmaxxing here on the Forkiverse (nod to @OKdad for teaching us Gen Z slang)

[okdad@theforkiverse.com]

Hah! 🤣 That’s very kind of you, @_elena , to imply that anyone learned anything from that tirade. You’re very generous, and I appreciate your efforts to reach out to the instance.

And I would say that I *do* also worry @Lognormal_guy , but I think a lot of this does lean into the more “moral panic-y” side. The Gen Z folks that I have the privilege to know in my life are doing a fine job distinguishing meme from reality...

[okdad@theforkiverse.com]

@_elena @Lognormal_guy

...I think the the concerning thing for me is that if you are already pre-disposed to loneliness, right-wing thinking, and/or that your *body* is the singular thing that attracts people, that there is a whole *ecosystem* of people waiting to take you for a ride. “Clavicular” has a lot to answer for, but he is only *20 years old.* Whoever *promotes* this content has a lot more to answer for than the guy himself. 20 year olds are allowed to have terrible ideas...

[okdad@theforkiverse.com]

@_elena @Lognormal_guy

... I think *promotion* can come in many different forms too—such as algorithmic promotion, platforming, and hate-boosting. Regardless on your feelings on this person, I think we can understand why bone-smashing is *viral.* It’s *visceral.* It *demands* you have an opinion on it.

I think this is ultimately why I think this leans more “moral panic” too. How could you not be concerned about the kids when you hear about kids SMASHING THEIR FACE...

[okdad@theforkiverse.com]

@_elena @Lognormal_guy

...but again, the kids I know *know this.* And I think we often don’t give kids enough credit for being smart. I have certainly leaned into this thinking myself: “well, *I* had *AWFUL* ideas at this age, would I have fallen for this?” I think the answer is 'maybe!' but kids also try identities and then adopt or discard them...

[_elena@mastodon.social]

@OKdad beautifully said. And I am judging the NYTimes for platforming and giving an implicit legitimacy to such "trends"... of course moral panic leads to clicks, rage and attention, sigh

@Lognormal_guy