Technology

Parteek Kler

Weaponized Aesthetics: The Algorithmic Pipeline and Reality of Looksmaxxing

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Parteek Kler is an upcoming graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University’s Professional Communication program, with a strong interest in public relations, media strategy, and the evolving role of AI in communications. Throughout his time at TMU, he has taken on executive roles and completed internships that have strengthened his skills in communication, collaboration, and leadership, allowing him to thrive in team environments while demonstrating independence and initiative. Outside of his professional interests, Parteek enjoys staying active, traveling, and spending time with friends. He is excited to apply his skills in the professional world and continue growing in the communications field. 

Looksmaxxing is a male beauty subculture built around optimizing physical appearance, and TikTok has quietly become its catalyst. The subculture itself exists on a spectrum; at its far end sits something darker: the “black pill” ideology, misogyny, racism, disordered eating, and the unregulated use of substances referred to as “peptides.” My research explores whether TikTok’s recommendation algorithm and influencer rhetoric are actively fueling young men toward radicalization, and what impact this has on their daily lives. To find out, I ran an algorithmic audit across three devices, analyzed content from 25 of the top creators in the Looksmaxxing space, and thematically coded 160 user comments. My findings indicated neither a user problem nor a creator problem. The issue is structural. It is embedded in the algorithm itself, altering how young men see themselves and move through the world. This is Weaponized Aesthetics.

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