Steroids are everywhere on social media – but how dangerous are they?
From “trenfluencers” to complex drug regimens, influencers are reshaping how millions approach steroid use. Now, researchers are trying to catch up with what this means for our health
By Ian Taylor
2 September 2025
South_agency/Getty Images
If you have swiped through fitness-related content on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok lately, chances are that an influencer on your feed has taken steroids. A recent global meta-study estimates that steroid use in gym-goers ranges from 6 per cent in some countries to a staggering 29 per cent in others.
You might find this surprising, but Timothy Piatkowski at Griffith University in Australia says the culture around steroid use has shifted in the past decade, with many fitness influencers now openly disclosing their drug use and positioning themselves as experts who can help their followers take steroids for the best results.
“Unfortunately, the level of clinical knowledge and critical thinking varies quite significantly in these groups,” says Piatkowski.
The attitudes of these influencers towards health risks varies hugely, he says. A cursory look on Instagram shows that some influencers think the risks of steroid use are significant but can be intelligently managed; others label themselves “trenfluencers”, referring to their willingness to inject trenbolone, a steroid used to reduce muscle wasting in cattle during transport.
Millions of people looking to bulk up may be wondering if these substances really are safe or if influencers are luring them onto a dangerous path. What do we really know about the harms of steroids, and is there a safer way to take them?
Piatkowski says research on the long-term health risks of steroids is patchy, partially because there is a mismatch between the dosages and use patterns tested by scientists and those of real-world users. He and other researchers are trying to fill the gaps by working closely with steroid users to shape more relevant and realistic studies.
