Influencers linked to the online “manosphere” are persuading healthy young men that normal variations in mood, energy or libido mean they have low testosterone, according to a study in Social Science and Medicine.
Researchers analysed popular posts on TikTok and Instagram and found testosterone testing was often framed as essential to being a “real man”, despite routine screening being medically unnecessary for most young men. Experts warn this promotes a “medicalisation of masculinity”, fuels sales of tests and supplements, and may expose men to unnecessary health risks, while many posts fail to clearly disclose financial interests.
