My research explores the relationship between social media and the growing use of image and performance enhancing drugs (IPEDs) among young men. I am particularly interested in how algorithm-driven platforms, such as TikTok, shape understandings of masculinity, body ideals, and IPED use through personalised content and recommendation systems.
Building on my previous research into social media and male body image, I examine how young men navigate online representations of the “ideal” male physique and how these representations can blur perceptions of what is naturally attainable. As digital identities become increasingly central to everyday life, understanding how users engage with content promoting body modification and performance enhancement has become increasingly important.
While existing research has largely focused on the experiences of individuals who already use IPEDs or have examined social media in more general terms, comparatively little attention has been paid to the role of algorithm-driven platforms in shaping attitudes towards these substances. Alongside the growing body of literature surrounding the “manosphere”, my research aims to address this gap by investigating how TikTok may amplify extreme content relating to masculinity, fitness, and IPED use, and how this content may contribute to young men’s understandings of health, appearance, and identity.
More broadly, my work contributes to debates surrounding digital cultures, masculinities, health, and the social consequences of algorithmic media.
