The widespread obsession with being skinny is nothing new in our society. For years, trends like “heroin chic” and “thigh gap skinny” have ravaged the public. In today’s world, it’s not just the media outlets that are circulating these unhealthy trends. It’s being spread by everyday people on social media at an alarming rate.

New social media accounts promoting eating disorder behaviours and unhealthy weight-loss goals are popping up every day. With the invention of the internet, we first saw these types of accounts gain popularity in online chat forums. These forums are full of vulnerable people looking for advice on how to lose weight, or searching for the most restrictive diet in order to reach their unhealthy goal weights. A couple of years later, an app by the name of Tumblr would become the breeding ground for eating disorders. Tumblr somehow managed to romanticize things like starvation, purging, thigh gaps, and mental illness. With every scroll, pictures of malnourished people, scales, empty plates, and phrases like “keep going until you can see your bones” were being praised. These accounts also promoted the idea of having an “ana buddy”. An Ana buddy was someone who would keep you accountable with your diet, remind you of how big you were, and encourage you to keep engaging in all these unhealthy behaviours. In turn, you should do the same for them.

After Tumblr lost its popularity, apps like Instagram and TikTok took reign and the cycle restarted. The effect these ideals have had on our society is devastating.
The rise of pro-eating disorder accounts on social media has contributed heavily to the rise of eating disorders and body image issues in young people. According to the Eating Recovery Center, “People spending over three hours daily on social media are twice as likely to develop eating disorders than those with less screen time” and “A study found that 50% of participants reported changing their diet based on a social media post, and 48% felt judged or criticised for their food choices because of social media”. With statistics like these, it’s evident that social media are having a great effect on people’s self-esteem.

Millions of young people are on social media and are being exposed to these harmful narratives. How can we limit these accounts from reaching young people and damaging their mental health? Limiting screen time is my top recommendation for evading pro-eating disorder accounts on social media. Not only will that help your self-esteem, but it can improve your sleep and overall mental health as well. Another tactic is to block any triggering words or accounts from reaching your profile. Protecting your peace should be a top priority when scrolling through social media. Social media is supposed to be fun, but if you find that it puts you down, it’s time to make some changes.

Article written by: Paulina Barker “My name is Paulina Barker and I have a passion for mental health. I obtained my bachelors degree in psychology from California State University, Northridge and am currently in the process of trying to pursue my master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. My area of interest has always been eating disorders and body image. I believe everyone deserves to feel worthy and live in harmony with food. I’m one step closer to reaching my goals everyday.”