Distorted Realities: How Social Media is Pressuring Teens into Using Steroids
Social media has brought about countless benefits, but it also has its downsides, one of which is its influence on drug addiction among youth, especially in the fitness industry.
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​Credit by Nicholas Antoniadis. Information by TikTok​
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​When discussing steroids, it's important to understand that there are different types. For instance, cortisone is a steroid used to treat injuries, while anabolic steroids are used to help increase muscle growth. The type commonly used by the younger generation is anabolic steroids.
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According to research conducted by the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH). Certain videos posted on TikTok and Instagram with hashtags promoting the use of steroids have racked up more than 600 million views across United States users in the last three years. Most of those videos are coming from younger individuals, particularly men between the age of 18-24.
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Example of CCDH article. Credit: https://counterhate.com/research/tiktoks-toxic-trade/​
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"They are wanting to do it because when you are on social media, it is the top one percent of the physiques you see on social media, you are going through the algorithm and see people with amazing physiques, so they are just thinking, okay how can I get there as fast as possible?" Ashtonn Wolff, a full-time fitness coach who coaches both natural clients and clients who take steroids. He explains the thought process on why the younger generation is so influenced to take steroids.
Photo of Ashtonn Wolff
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Wolff also explains that he is worried the younger generation will abuse steroids the same way bodybuilders do and will end up with health problems.
When teenagers take steroids, they often have no idea what kind of damage they could be doing to their bodies. While the appeal of getting big muscles and having a great physique is nice, the side effects are the most concerning. These side effects can include long-term heart and liver issues, aggressive behavior, acne, and fertility problems. Additionally, stopping steroid use can lead to the body losing its ability to produce testosterone naturally, and would be forced to take Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) for the rest of their lives.
Credit by Nicholas Antoniadis
In April 2023, the FDA issued a warning about the use of steroids among youth after the impact on social media influencers. In the FDA's warning, they mentioned a report that it was connected to the steroid-like drug called selective androgen receptor modulators, otherwise known as SARMs. When teens were taking this drug, they started to notice an increase in heart attack risk, infertility, and depression.
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"It can be very dangerous. I was super emotionally unstable, and ruined relationships with my parents, so it can be absolutely dangerous." Julian Gonzalez, a content creator with a background in Neurology and PED pharmacology, talked about how he started taking steroid-like drugs at a young age, due to wanting to see more progress over other people who were at the gym way less than himself. He is now using his platform to help others to not follow the same path he did. "If steroids were not being glorified in the way it was on social media, then I would not have started. I used to be big on promoting certain products, but now I try to stay away from that."
Photo of Julian Gonzalez
In the United States, specific steroids require a prescription but are still illegal when sold as a dietary supplement. According to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, it is stated that "SARMs are currently available for prescription. All SARMs are investigational drugs."
Most of the time, people who are selling these compounds specifically target underage users. They rely on social media influencers on platforms such as TikTok to market their products. Many of these creators have impacted the younger generation in taking drugs, even if they are not encouraging teenagers to take steroid-like substances. One notable influencer with a large teenage following who has contributed to this trend is Shane Stoffer, otherwise known as Togi on social media.
"Togi appeals to the younger generation because it is kind of this fast-paced lifestyle, lots of money, women, and drugs, and it seems very appealing to the younger crowd," Gonzalez explains why the younger generation steers more to Stoffer’s content. “It is a dangerous tightrope to walk on when you hold the well-being of hundreds of thousands of younger kids from your content.”
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Credit by Nicholas Antoniadis​
Shane Stoffer "Image Credit sportskeeda.com"
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Stoffer has built a large following, with less than 500,000 subscribers on YouTube and 750,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok. He has been promoting steroids and gambling on social media, showing off to the younger generation how his life has changed since he decided to take steroids. Influencers such as Stoffer have played a major role in teenagers to post gym content and workout videos, and often encourage others to follow in their footsteps and use steroids.
Video Credit by @REALRAWTALK
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Rayyan Siddiqui, a natural bodybuilder who has been competing for over a year, discusses the negative side of steroid use on Instagram. "I think people should consider the consequences of PED use on their health. If you are going to go down the path of PEDs, consult with a physiologist or someone just to check on your health and your bloodwork." Siddiqui believes individuals should stay off of these drugs.
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Photo of Rayyan Siddiqui
“A lot of it is through social media, impressing individuals, and impressing guys or girls. All of that is short-term, but long-term, it does not work out as well as people would like to believe.” Siddiqui said.​
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These days, some of the most talked-about stories in the bodybuilding world involve deaths linked to steroid-like substances, which can paint a frightening picture. "The stigma is terrible because many guys misuse these drugs without understanding what they are doing," Wolff explained. "You never hear about the people who have used steroids responsibly for decades and lived healthy lives—only about those who push their bodies too far and suffer the consequences after a show."
