'Toxic beauty': Rise of 'looksmaxxing' influencers

Looksmaxxing influencers—part of an online ecosystem dubbed the "manosphere"—have surged in popularity across social media, capitalizing on the insecurities of young men eager to boost their physical attractiveness to women.

In posts across TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, they promote pseudoscientific methods to achieve everything from pouty lips to chin extensions and almond-shaped "hunter eyes," often while monetizing their popularity by endorsing a range of consumer products.