What Does TikTok’s Viral Term “Mogging” Mean?

A melting pot of different cultures and minds, social media is a space where an entirely new language is built from the conglomeration of many. Because of this, we’re constantly learning new terms that define our relationship to the internet and ourselves, from eyebrow blindness to twink death .

If you’re keeping up, then the term “mogging” is the latest to rise from social media. A verb falling under the umbrella of “looksmaxxing,” the act of improving one’s appearance to become more physically attractive, “mogging” refers to outshining others due to the undeniability of your beauty. This TikTok trend includes posting photos of multiple people where one is “mogging” the others, aka standing out with even more beauty and prowess. If you’re still not totally sure what the term means or how to effectively use it, let’s dive in a bit deeper.

Where Did Mogging Come From?

In order to explain the origin of “mogging,” we must understand another TikTok term: “looksmaxxing.” Looksmaxxing is the act of investing in yourself physically so that you can be your most attractive self. It’s achieved via lofty definitions of idealized standards of height, jawline, chin, hair, voice, fashion or overall dominance. In order to “looksmaxx,” experts recommended eating well, moving your body, and maintaining physical hygiene through skincare and wellness .

Once you’ve “looksmaxxed,” you can effectively “mog,” aka look superior in physical appearance or overall attractiveness than others. The word itself comes from the acronym “AMOG,” or “Alpha male of the group.” This phrase has roots in the pickup artist community and in fitness forums, who suggest mogging as a method for picking up women.

It describes how you look in a photo, or how you show up to an event in comparison to others around you. If someone says, “I’m mogging you,” it means they think that they’re better looking than you. It’s become more and more commonly used amongst friends, a measurement of who is truly stunning in the photo.

Use Mogging Wisely

All in all, is the term a bit problematic? Of course. Operating within an image-based society is already a toxic byproduct of social media, but when that same social media centers rhetoric rooted in equating looks with status and value, things can get even more damaging.

While these terms are all fun and games, it’s important to make sure they remain as so. There’s no problem in seeking to better yourself and evolve, but don’t take “mogging” or “looksmaxxing” too seriously when it comes to how you define your worth. And while “mogging” can be considered playful teasing between friends, it’s important to equally uplift those you love and remind them of their unconditional beauty just the same.

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