A new social media trend that encourages individuals to take testosterone recreationally is gaining popularity across social media platforms.

Known as t-maxxing or testosterone-maxxing, the practice is closely associated with other popular self-improvement trends such as looks-maxxing and sleep-maxxing aimed at maximizing ones appearance.

T-maxxing advocates tend to be body-building and health influencers, with young men most at risk to following the trend.

Taking testosterone is only medically advised when diagnosed with low testosterone, and poses serious risks when taken unnecessarily. 

The practice threatens to exacerbate issues of body-image faced by young people online. 

Image: Image: Shutterstock – MDV Edwards

Produced By: George Pople

Featured In Story: Samuel Cornell – PhD Candidate in Public Health & Community Medicine at UNSW Sydney, and

First aired on The Wire, Wednesday 20 August 2025