Who is Clavicular, and why is he everywhere right now?
Mashable
February 26, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Braden Peters, known online as Clavicular, is a 20-year-old influencer who has gained significant attention for his involvement in the "looksmaxxing" movement. This trend, which originated in incel communities, focuses on extreme measures to achieve a specific aesthetic ideal, often through plastic surgery, dieting, and even harmful practices like bone-smashing or drug use. Clavicular's popularity stems from his promotion of this ideology, with nearly 770,000 followers on TikTok and 190,000 on Kick, where he streams live content. His rise reflects how once-niche ideas from online subcultures are becoming mainstream.
Looksmaxxing is not just about improving one's appearance but conforming to a narrowly defined ideal of male beauty rooted in white supremacism and traditional gender roles. Influencers like Clavicular idolize features such as symmetrical faces, square jaws, and muscular physiques, often using fascist imagery to describe their goals. The movement also ties into broader capitalist ideas of optimization and competition, viewing relationships as a "sexual marketplace" where physical appeal determines success.
The popularity of looksmaxxing highlights how internet culture amplifies trends that prioritize superficiality over authenticity and well-being. While some view it as harmless fun, the trend has disturbing implications, including promoting unrealistic beauty standards, encouraging risky health behaviors like steroid use, and reinforcing toxic gender norms. For tech-savvy readers, this reflects how online platforms can both amplify and shape societal trends, raising questions about their role in promoting harmful ideologies.
Ultimately, looksmaxxing’s rise signals a broader shift toward valuing physical perfection over other aspects of identity. As it gains traction, understanding its origins, impact, and ethical concerns becomes crucial for anyone interested in tech culture's influence on society. The movement’s popularity also underscores the need to critically examine how online trends shape real-world behaviors and values.
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Originally published on Mashable on 2/26/2026