Iron Culture presented by MASS Ep 365 - The Science Behind Toxic Online Fitness Culture
Feb 12, 2026
They unpack why in-person fitness communities feel supportive while online fitness spaces often get toxic. They outline which personality traits and types drive influencer behavior and heated discourse. They explain how social media can temporarily change people’s personalities and amplify performative, polarizing content. They end with concrete tips for curating a healthier online experience.
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Helms' Early Naivete On Science Social Media
- Eric Helms shared his early naivete entering social media and noticing narcissistic tendencies among early science communicators.
- He warned against letting heroes become infallible gurus due to frequent high-profile falls from grace.
What Drives People To Become Influencers
- Desire to be an influencer links to extroversion, narcissism, and histrionic traits.
- Conscientiousness negatively predicts influencer ambition, separating good scientists from charismatic online stars.
Narcissism Correlates With Posting Activity
- Grandiose narcissism correlates with posting frequency, follower counts, and selfie behavior.
- Influencers visible on feeds are disproportionately high on narcissism and attention-seeking traits.