Influencers linked to the online “manosphere” are persuading healthy young men that normal changes in energy, mood or libido signal low testosterone, according to a study in Social Science and Medicine.
Researchers analysed popular posts on TikTok and Instagram and found testosterone testing was marketed as essential to masculinity, despite routine screening being medically unnecessary for most young men.
The study’s lead author from the University of Copenhagen said influencers often pathologised ordinary experiences to sell tests, supplements or treatments, contributing to a “medicalisation of masculinity”. Medical experts warned that unwarranted testing and treatment can carry risks, and that testosterone levels require careful clinical interpretation.
