How Social Media Targets Women With Eating Disorders
Protect yourself and your children from this harmful trend
Over thirty years ago, when I worked as director of group psychotherapy for a residential eating disorders treatment program, just about every patient there struggled with negative body image. They were preoccupied with minute physical imperfections, bemoaned their presumed ugliness, and saw body fat when it was nonexistent.
Yet, most of these patients were stunningly beautiful.
Many likely had a genetic predisposition to develop eating disorders (such as anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder), along with depression and anxiety. Many also reported a history of abuse or bullying or dysfunctional relationships. And as I wrote previously, some may have been neurodivergent. Every one or them, though, were influenced by fashion magazines, as well as film and pop stars.
But social media was barely in its infancy then and not part of the equation.
Social media and eating disorders are interconnected
As social media’s presence has skyrocketed over the past 25 years, though, there has been a corresponding increase in the prevalence of body image concerns and eating disorders (as I described in a recent article). For example, a report from the American Society for Nutrition found that the prevalence of eating disorders rose from 3.5% of the population during the years 2000–2006 to 7.8% of the population from 2013–2018.
Previous research also found an association between both Facebook and Instagram use and eating disorders, along with a correlation between the frequency and amount of social media use and both eating-related concerns and symptoms of an eating disorder, reported University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers Jaime Sidani and colleagues.
Internet use is itself a risk factor and contributes to greater internalization of a “thin ideal,” body and facial dissatisfaction, a drive for thinness, and eating disordered behaviors, wrote Flinders University psychology researchers Grace Holland and Marika Tiggemann. “Due to the constant availability of social media, research suggests that this form of media may have a greater impact on body image than traditional media.”
Young women are now targeted
Up until now, though, an association between social media use and eating disorder prevalence has been mostly correlational.
But a recent study of TikTok users went further and exposed how algorithms specifically target these vulnerable young women, according to a study published in Body Image from University of Melbourne psychology researchers Scott Griffiths and colleagues.
The researchers reviewed more than one million TikTok videos sent over the course of one month to 42 individuals with eating disorders and a control group of 49 healthy individuals without an eating disorder.
“Algorithms belonging to users with eating disorders delivered more appearance-oriented (+146 %), dieting (+335 %), exercise (+142 %), and toxic eating disorder videos (+4343 %). Stronger biases in users’ algorithms toward these videos were associated with more severe eating disorder symptoms.”
Griffiths and colleagues also found that while those with eating disorders were somewhat more likely to “like” these videos, they were more likely to receive these videos before indicating their preferences “via content personalization.”
What needs to change
Even after my psychotherapy clients have recovered from eating disorder symptoms, body image dissatisfaction frequently persists. This is often fueled by the relentless assault of media and social media images that portray an unattainable appearance and the client’s entrenched acceptance of norms that differ from their own body type.
Change must include action from educators, parents, policymakers, psychotherapists, “influencers” (such as fashion, pop star, film star, and fitness celebrities) and the online platforms that host these harmful accounts, wrote Flinders University psychology researchers Madelaine de Valle and colleagues.
Enlisting action toward change includes the following (as I outlined in greater detail here):
Educate children and teens about the harmful impact of social media and encourage them to reduce exposure and “unfollow” sites that peddle distorted and harmful perspectives on appearance.
Cultivate social media “literacy,” where critical thinking skills are enlisted to question content that negatively affects self-esteem.
Design campaigns to promote more realistic and diverse body types. Some efforts may fall on the consumer, though, who must boycott offensive social media sites and their products.
Focus on “offline” activities to minimize social media exposure, emphasize face-to-face engagement, and engage in other hobbies and activities.
Focus on boosting self-esteem and body image “neutrality,” where appearance that differs from cultural norms is accepted.
Consider psychotherapy with a licensed mental health professional who can address eating disorder symptoms or body image disparagement.
More information about eating disorders, body image concerns, and social media use can be found here:
American Psychological Association (media and social media use)
National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) (for educators, parents, and individuals with an eating disorder)
ANAD (for information about body image and eating disorders)
F.E.A.S.T. (for families of a loved one with an eating disorder)
BDD Foundation (for body dysmorphic disorder)
Organization for Social Media Safety (how to promote safe practices online)
Media literacy is so invaluable these days!