TikTok's "LooksMaxxing" Trend Is a lot Darker Than You Think...
TLDRThe video discusses the 'LooksMaxxing' trend on TikTok, which encourages extreme measures to enhance physical attractiveness. Originating from darker corners of the internet, it has now gone viral on TikTok, promoting a potentially toxic culture around beauty standards. The speaker, Salem, critiques the trend for its focus on superficial improvement and its potential to harm self-esteem. They argue that true self-improvement should be holistic, not just physical, and emphasize the importance of internal qualities over external appearance. The video also touches on the paradox of Generation Z's awareness of beauty standards and their negative impact, yet their continued pursuit of these standards. Salem concludes by encouraging viewers to focus on self-improvement for personal growth rather than seeking external validation.
Takeaways
- 📈 The 'LooksMaxxing' trend on TikTok involves extreme measures to improve physical attractiveness, including bone breaking for height and breathing exercises for facial structure.
- 🌐 Originating from darker corners of the internet like 4chan and Reddit, the trend has now become mainstream on TikTok, which is concerning due to its roots.
- 📉 LooksMaxxing is tied to a toxic culture that can lead to low self-esteem and negative self-image, especially among Generation Z who are already dealing with high levels of anxiety and self-consciousness.
- 📱 The use of filters and online tools to measure attractiveness, such as the 'Canel Tilt', contributes to the obsession with beauty standards and can lead to harmful self-evaluation.
- 🤔 The speaker criticizes the shallow nature of LooksMaxxing, suggesting that it distracts from more meaningful aspects of self-improvement and personal development.
- 😷 There is a noted hypocrisy in Generation Z, where they criticize beauty standards yet engage in trends that reinforce them, leading to a cycle of self-induced pressure and comparison.
- 🚫 LooksMaxxing can result in a defeatist mentality where individuals believe their worth is tied to their appearance, which is a dangerous mindset to adopt.
- 🏃 The focus on external validation and fitting into societal beauty standards can lead to a never-ending chase that is ultimately unfulfilling and unattainable.
- 💔 The pursuit of beauty at the expense of self-worth and genuine self-improvement can result in individuals feeling like they don't belong or that their potential is limited by their looks.
- 🧘♂️ The video encourages viewers to focus on self-improvement for personal growth and health, rather than seeking validation or adhering to unrealistic beauty standards.
- 💬 The speaker invites viewers to share their opinions on LooksMaxxing and beauty standards, promoting open dialogue and the expression of diverse perspectives.
Q & A
What is the 'LooksMaxxing' trend that the video discusses?
-LooksMaxxing is a movement, lifestyle, and trend that has gone viral on TikTok, which involves physical improvement of a person's body, bone structure, jawline, and facial features to make oneself more attractive or easier to like.
What is the origin of the term 'LooksMaxxing'?
-The term 'LooksMaxxing' originated from forums on sites like 4chan and Reddit, before becoming popular on TikTok.
Why does the video suggest that the LooksMaxxing trend can be harmful?
-The video suggests that LooksMaxxing can be harmful because it can lead to a toxic obsession with beauty standards, causing people to become counterproductive, and negatively affect their self-esteem and mental health.
What is the connection between the LooksMaxxing trend and Generation Z's self-esteem?
-The LooksMaxxing trend is connected to Generation Z's self-esteem because over 40% of Gen Z individuals are diagnosed with a mental health condition, and 80% of women struggle with self-image issues, making them more susceptible to the pressures of beauty standards.
How does the video describe the societal pressure on young people to be attractive?
-The video describes societal pressure as a force that makes young people feel that being more attractive will lead to better treatment and opportunities, which is reinforced by the 'halo effect' and 'pretty privilege' concepts.
What is the video's stance on self-improvement in terms of appearance?
-The video supports self-improvement in terms of appearance if it is for personal health and well-being, but criticizes it when it is done solely for external validation or to meet unrealistic beauty standards.
What are some of the extreme measures mentioned in the video that people might take for LooksMaxxing?
-The video mentions extreme measures such as ensuring correct breathing for a balanced face, hair treatments to increase volume, and even breaking bones to increase height as part of the LooksMaxxing trend.
What is the 'Canel Tilt' filter mentioned in the video?
-The 'Canel Tilt' filter is a TikTok filter that supposedly determines whether a person has a negative or positive tilt, which is believed to affect their attractiveness based on whether the measurement goes up or down.
How does the video address the issue of comparing oneself to others, especially celebrities?
-The video criticizes the habit of comparing oneself to others, especially celebrities who have access to the best surgeries and skincare, stating that it is an unfair and unproductive comparison that can lead to negative self-image.
What is the video's advice for those who feel pressured to conform to beauty standards?
-The video advises focusing on self-improvement for oneself rather than seeking external validation. It encourages viewers to look beyond surface-level changes and work on personal development and inner qualities.
What is the final message of the video regarding beauty standards and self-worth?
-The final message is that true self-worth and attractiveness come from within, and that external beauty fades over time. It emphasizes the importance of not letting societal beauty standards dictate one's self-esteem or happiness.
Outlines
😀 Introduction to Looks Maxing Trend
The video script introduces the concept of 'Looks Maxing,' a trend that has gone viral on TikTok and involves altering one's physical appearance to enhance attractiveness. The speaker expresses anxiety about discussing the topic due to its controversial nature, which originated from darker corners of the internet. The trend is tied to the broader culture's obsession with beauty standards and is seen as potentially toxic and counterproductive to self-improvement.
📈 The Rise of Beauty Standards and Self-Esteem Issues
This paragraph delves into the reasons why the Looks Maxing trend is resonating with Generation Z, highlighting the generation's low self-esteem and high levels of anxiety about appearance. The speaker discusses the trend's connection to the broader societal pressures to conform to beauty standards and the potential for these standards to be both harmful and unrealistic. The paragraph also touches on the dark past of the trend and its normalization on social media platforms like TikTok.
🚫 The Pressure to Conform and the Dangers of Looks Maxing
The speaker argues against the Looks Maxing trend, emphasizing the importance of self-improvement for personal growth rather than for external validation. They discuss the societal rewards for attractiveness and the false narratives that beauty standards provide. The paragraph also addresses the changing nature of beauty standards and the potential negative consequences of striving for an unattainable ideal.
🧐 The Fallacy of Beauty Standards and the Importance of Self-Acceptance
This section challenges the viewer to look beyond superficial beauty trends and to focus on overall well-being and self-improvement. The speaker points out that attractiveness does not guarantee happiness or success and that societal beauty standards are constantly changing. They encourage the audience to work on themselves as whole entities rather than fixating on meeting unrealistic beauty standards.
💔 The Consequences of External Validation and the Need for Authentic Self-Improvement
The final paragraph of the script implores the audience to pursue self-improvement for their own sake rather than seeking validation from others. The speaker warns against the dangers of self-hatred and the pursuit of beauty at the expense of one's inner character. They emphasize the importance of balance and authenticity in self-improvement and encourage the audience to be true to themselves rather than succumbing to societal pressures.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡LooksMaxxing
💡Canel Tilt
💡Mewing
💡Beauty Standards
💡Self-Improvement
💡Generation Z
💡External Validation
💡Toxic Beauty Trends
💡Pretty Privilege
💡Halo Effect
💡NPC
Highlights
The 'LooksMaxxing' trend on TikTok encourages extreme physical improvement for attractiveness.
LooksMaxxing involves practices such as proper breathing for facial balance, hair growth techniques, and even bone breaking for height.
The trend has roots in internet forums like 4chan and Reddit, known for toxic beauty standards.
LooksMaxxing has spread to TikTok, with filters to measure facial ratios and attractiveness percentages.
The trend is tied to 'genZ' culture and its obsession with beauty standards and self-image.
The movement can lead to a toxic mindset, being counterproductive to self-improvement and harmful to mental health.
LooksMaxxing capitalizes on the fear of not meeting societal beauty standards and the desire for external validation.
The video discusses the dark past of LooksMaxxing and its normalization on social media platforms.
The obsession with beauty standards can lead to a never-ending cycle of self-improvement and dissatisfaction.
LooksMaxxing promotes a shallow approach to self-improvement, focusing only on physical appearance.
The video criticizes the generation's hypocrisy in reviving toxic beauty trends and the pressure to conform to them.
Gen Z is described as one of the most self-conscious and appearance-anxious generations, with high rates of mental health issues.
The speaker argues that true self-improvement should focus on overall health and personal development, not just physical appearance.
LooksMaxxing can lead to an unhealthy focus on superficial traits and an obsession with unattainable beauty standards.
The video emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance and not seeking validation from toxic beauty standards.
The ultimate goal should be self-improvement for personal growth, not to fit into societal or online beauty norms.
The speaker encourages viewers to focus on their inner qualities and personal values rather than external appearances.
LooksMaxxing and similar trends can create a sense of failure if one does not meet the constantly changing beauty standards.