The “Hung Smile” Phenomenon: What Social Media Is Saying About Men’s Grins
Social media has birthed yet another viral theory that has people examining facial expressions with new scrutiny. The latest trend suggests that a man’s smile can reveal his endowment below the belt, creating a wave of speculation across platforms like TikTok and X. Dubbed the “hung smile,” this supposedly telling expression is described as a confident, slightly smug smirk that indicates a man knows he’s well-endowed. This concept parallels the “big d–k energy” phenomenon that gained popularity in 2018, largely associated with comedian Pete Davidson. While completely unscientific, the theory has captivated social media users who are now analyzing celebrity grins with renewed interest, looking for that subtle expression of masculine confidence that supposedly says more than words ever could.
TikTok creator Stephen Brenland helped popularize the concept when he explained in a viral video that “only a certain specific group of men can do this smile.” He describes it not as a full happy grin but rather “a smug smirk, sometimes with teeth” that exudes confidence. According to Brenland, it’s a “casual smile” where “the corners of his mouth don’t even go up that much, but they are up a little bit and it just has so much confidence behind it.” His viewers enthusiastically endorsed the theory in the comments, with one noting that “it’s an eye smile rather than a mouth smile,” suggesting the confidence shows in a man’s eyes as much as his lips. Another user confidently claimed, “I’ve seen the hung smile many times,” further legitimizing the concept among believers. The trend gained additional momentum when other TikTokkers began responding to comments identifying their own smiles as fitting this supposed category.
The phenomenon has particularly taken hold on X (formerly Twitter), where users are applying the theory to their favorite male celebrities. “Superman” actor David Corenswet has become a prime subject of this speculation, with fans sharing screenshots from his recent press appearances and photoshoots. His towering 6’4″ frame only adds to the speculation among those who subscribe to the theory. Similarly, Hugh Jackman, the 6’2″ “X-Men” star, has become another celebrity whose smile is being analyzed under this new lens. Users share photos of him with captions like “he got that hung smile,” treating these observations as revelatory insights rather than baseless conjecture. The trend has expanded to fictional characters as well, with TikTokker Lexi posting a video of actor Evan Peters in his role as Tate Langdon on “American Horror Story,” accompanied by the declaration, “he got that hung smile y’all.”
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding this theory, it’s important to note that there is absolutely no scientific basis for determining a man’s physical attributes based on his smile. This joins a long list of physical myths about determining male endowment, including the old wives’ tales about hand size, foot size, or shoe size as indicators. These types of correlations have been perpetuated throughout history but consistently lack scientific support when actually studied. The “hung smile” concept appears to be yet another example of people seeking external clues to private physical characteristics, fueled by social media’s ability to rapidly spread and validate unsubstantiated theories through likes, shares, and enthusiastic comments from fellow believers.
Interestingly, while the smile theory has no scientific backing, Dr. Rena Malik, a sexual health surgeon, revealed in an interview on the Diary of a CEO podcast that there might be one body part that could provide a more legitimate clue: the nose. She referenced a Japanese study that found nose length was correlated with penile length, unlike hands or feet. However, she acknowledged the study’s limitations, noting it only examined Japanese men and may not apply universally. Whether this single study represents a genuine correlation or simply another coincidental finding remains unclear without broader research confirmation. What is clear, according to Dr. Malik, is that anxiety about male endowment appears to be increasing, with more patients expressing concerns about their size, possibly fueled by these types of social media discussions.
The “hung smile” phenomenon ultimately represents how social media can transform baseless observations into widely accepted “truths” through the power of viral sharing. While completely unscientific, it taps into age-old human curiosity about determining hidden physical attributes through visible traits. The trend also highlights our ongoing fascination with celebrity culture, as fans eagerly apply these theories to famous figures they admire. Like many viral social media theories, the “hung smile” concept will likely fade as new trends emerge, but it serves as an interesting case study in how quickly unsubstantiated ideas can gain credibility through digital word-of-mouth. In an era when information spreads instantaneously, distinguishing between entertaining social media theories and scientific reality becomes increasingly important—even when discussing something as seemingly innocent as a smile.
