“You gotta be fucking roided, you gotta be ripped, you gotta be dialled”: Body Image, Gym Culture and TikTok use among Young Men in Aotearoa

Historically, research has overlooked men’s experiences of body image dissatisfaction. However, the ‘drive for muscularity’ has increasingly been recognised as a key experience of body image dissatisfaction, particularly with the popularisation of gym culture and increased appearance pressures among men. Social media has played a large role in the normalisation of the muscular ideal, with newer platforms such as TikTok making already unrealistic body ideals inescapable with powerful algorithms. TikTok is one way young men receive messaging about body ideals and expectations, with GymTok content becoming increasingly popular. There is a lot left unknown about the effects of this content on young men, and understanding their experiences is crucial in gaining understanding. One of the most effective ways to do this is to ask young men directly. In the present study, I interviewed 12 young gym-going men (ages 16-21) in Aotearoa about their lived experiences of body image and TikTok. I explored how participants talked about their reasons for attending the gym and their experiences there; their bodies and body image; and their experiences and use of TikTok in the context of the gym and body image. I adopted a critical realist approach, and used reflexive thematic analysis to developed four themes. Working It Out captured young men’s dissatisfaction with their bodies and how the gym appears to offer a promise of change and a way to deal with challenges. Gymperatives explored the imperatives which emphasise the importance of ‘doing’ the gym right and taking it seriously. These imperatives were apparent both inside and outside of the gym, and reflected neoliberal notions of productivity. Nobody Wins encapsulates young men’s understanding that body ideals are rife with double standards and knife edges; participants acknowledged the unrealistic standards on TikTok yet still felt pressure to live up to them. Finally, A Faulty Toolkit reflected participant’s difficulties coping with the pressures, using the tools they have available within the constraints of acceptable masculinity. My research highlights that young men experience body image pressures comparable to those of other genders. However, the reinforcement of restrictive masculine norms, particularly in online spaces, can create barriers to help-seeking, making it feel impossible. Normalising conversations with young men that challenge restrictive masculinity and unrealistic online appearance ideals is key to expanding societal ideas of body image dissatisfaction and its impact on men.