The Rise of 'Mogging': How Teenage Boys Are Being Pushed Toward Extreme Beauty Obsessions
In a concerning evolution within online male culture, a new phenomenon called "mogging" is gaining traction among Generation A boys, promoting the idea that physical appearance now trumps intelligence, character, and achievement. This trend, which originates from the term AMOG (Alpha Male of the Group), represents a significant shift in the manosphere, where young men are being told that their worth is determined almost exclusively by their looks.
From Sci-Fi Warning to Reality: The Disturbing Parallels
The 1997 dystopian film Gattaca, which depicted a future where genetic perfection determined social standing, has proven eerily prescient. In the movie, protagonist Vincent undergoes painful leg-breaking procedures to achieve the ideal height of 6'1". Today, this fictional scenario has entered teenage conversations, with boys like 15-year-old Ryan stating he would "absolutely" consider bone smashing if he doesn't reach six feet. The procedure, involving breaking and resetting leg bones, receives increasing coverage on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, with alarming numbers of teenage boys expressing interest.
Ryan explains the mogging mindset: "Short guys just don't mog. They can call themselves 'short kings' all they want. I'd do anything to not be short. It's one of the worst things that can happen to a man. At least if you're ugly, you can have plastic surgery and fat people can shred. Thank god, there's technology coming in that means there's a cure for being short. You can only mog if you're tall. Facts."
The New Andrew Tate: Braden Peters and the Mogging Gospel
Enter Braden Peters, known online as Clavicular, who has emerged as a leading figure in this movement with a growing following among Generation A boys. Peters evangelizes that a young man's highest priority must be achieving maximum physical attractiveness—or "mogging." His extreme methods include reportedly hitting himself in the face with a hammer and trying crystal meth to control appetite and maintain a ripped physique.
Peters' worldview reached mainstream attention in December 2025 when he shocked The Daily Wire with his political commentary. He described Vice-President JD Vance as "subhuman" not for political reasons, but for his appearance, criticizing his "recessed side profile" and weight. Conversely, he praised California Governor Gavin Newsom as a "6'3 handsome Chad" who "totally mogs Vance," despite acknowledging Newsom's political flaws. This illustrates the mogging philosophy: physical beauty supposedly outweighs all other qualities.
The Psychological Toll: Beyond Vanity to Crisis
What might initially appear as simple teenage vanity reveals deeper psychological issues. Globally, Generation A boys are beginning to display eating disorder diagnoses and mental health issues related to appearance anxiety at levels approaching those of their female peers. The phenomenon echoes what researchers Harrison Pope, Katharine Phillips, and Roberto Olivardia termed "The Adonis Complex" in their book—a condition causing sufferers to believe they are never adequate regardless of others' perceptions.
Lawrence, a 17-year-old at a mixed boarding school, observes: "My brother, who's only 23, is training to be a teacher at my school and is an assistant housemaster to the equivalent of Year 9 boys. He cannot believe how obsessed they are with their looks and the amount of time they spend on making themselves looking good, working out, talking about their looks and all the products they have."
Broader Cultural Implications: Redefining Success and Happiness
The mogging craze is distorting fundamental concepts of success and happiness for an entire generation. Many Generation A youths now view traditionally elite professions—surgeon, architect, writer, spy—as "failures," believing true success lies in becoming content creators or crypto-funded CEOs. This mindset prioritizes physical appearance over intelligence, kindness, bravery, and values.
While some might see this as karmic justice after centuries of women facing similar pressures, experts warn it represents no victory for equality. Instead, it signals something "dark and lost in younger generations." Beauty has become a form of modern absolution—a perceived ticket to wealth, fame, and escape from ordinary life's burdens.
The Narcissus Parallel: Staring Into Digital Reflections
The driving forces behind mogging recall the Greek myth of Narcissus, who drowned while captivated by his own reflection. Today's teenagers are similarly transfixed by AI-generated beauty standards and influencer content that promotes unattainable ideals. The constant exposure to perfected digital imagery pushes young people toward extreme measures to achieve what technology presents as normal.
As Chloe Combi's investigation reveals, we failed to recognize how severely boys were struggling, allowing the manosphere's most damaging messages to take root. The previous #looksmaxxing trend, with its facemasks and "mewing" techniques, now seems tame compared to mogging's dangerous extremes. The situation has progressed to where Gattaca's warning feels less like fiction and more like prophecy.
It's time to pull young people back into reality—a world where appearance matters, but where we value other qualities more: relationships, ideas, character, and the connections we make along life's journey. The challenge now is helping a generation understand that true worth extends far beyond how much one "mogs."
