While “reelsmaxxing” on your phone, you might’ve noticed some viral clips by the popular streamer Clavicular. He is known for popularizing the “looksmaxxing” lifestyle and has developed multiple controversies around his content.
The 20-year-old streamer, whose real name is Braden Peters, is notorious for promoting self-improvement and growth. This may seem beneficial for the youth, but some of the methods he promotes can be self-destructive and harmful for his viewers.
Despite his young age, he has become very popular and has surrounded himself with famous internet personalities like the Tate brothers, Sneako and the hosts of the “Fresh and Fit” podcast. However, his fam should not be used to judge thesafety or effectiveness of the choices he endorses.
Clavicular promotes techniques like “bone smashing,” a practice where individuals hit their jaw bones with a blunt object to create micro-fractures in hopes of achieving a more chiseled bone structure. He has also promoted the use of growth hormones, steroids and other harmful substances, like cocaine as a preworkout and methamphetamine to stay lean.
Furthermore, he has experienced public call-outs, health scares and arrests for various charges, including battery, drug possession and shooting an alligator in the Everglades. Most recently, he overdosed on substances while filming a livestream, which he allegedly uses to cope and feel neurotypical in public.
Even though his main platform is Kik, he was recently banned from YouTube for violating multiple community guidelines. He said his channels were deleted with no previous notice and that his content was aimed at helping young men feel better about themselves. Sadly, that goal seems to come at the expense of others.
In reality, this type of content can have significant effects on younger viewers. Not only does he promote dangerous behaviors, but his content centers around the idea that a person’s worth is based on their looks, which can promote insecurities and cause psychological harm.
Clavicular’s content lines up perfectly with the “manosphere,” a networked collection of online communities that promote men’s rights and misogyny. In many of his viral clips you can see him disrespecting women, calling them names and treating them like objects.
In the long term, this can entirely change the way young teens socialize. They may start treating their bodies as products that need to be maximized, rather than seeking healthy, organic personal relationships, which can result in a complete withdrawal from social dynamics.
While some viewers might enjoy the lighter side of his content, the more extreme, dangerous elements can pose a significant risk to his growing younger audience.
