CW: This article discusses topics such as eating disorders, negative body image, which could be distressing to some readers
In the age of technology, the increased rise of social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram and their dominance over our daily lives have caused detrimental consequences, specifically on our mental health. There has been an increased link between the high prevalence of eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia and the use of social media. According to BEAT an estimate of around 1.25 million people in the UK have an eating disorder. Although the source of eating disorders is considered multifaceted and complex, social media unquestionably plays a pivotal role in its development.
Unrealistic Beauty Standards
Social media platforms are bombarded with heavily edited and filtered images that display idealized bodies and lifestyles, carefully curated by celebrities and influencers, creating absurd standards of beauty and unattainable goals of thinness. This constant exposure creates a distorted perception of body image, fostering a toxic cycle of low self-esteem, self-deprecation and internalised desires to attain unrealistic body standards through adopting extreme behaviours such as restricted diets and intense exercise regimens ultimately leading to eating disorders.
Social Comparison
Comparison culture and competition also contribute massively to the glamorization of eating disorders on social media platforms. Users' continuous comparisons of their appearance, development, and accomplishments to those of others creates a destructive cycle of self-criticism and unhappiness, creating newfound insecurities and driving the need for validation and societal acceptance, ultimately fuelling disordered eating.
The Increase In Pro-eating Disorder Communities
Social platforms especially Instagram and TikTok have unwittingly also given rise to communities that promote disordered eating and encourage eating disorders through hashtags such as #proana, #promia and #thinspiration. These dangerous hashtags reinforce and provide support and encouragement for these disordered behaviours and reinforce the belief that extreme weight loss is necessary for achieving happiness and becoming attractive. These online forums also praise excessive weight reduction or self-control over food consumption, sharing harmful weight-loss methods and tips on how to hide eating disorders from loved ones, perpetuating dangerous practices and increasing the impacts of disordered eating such as malnutrition, depression, anxiety, low blood pressure, organ damage and more.
Alleviating The Influence
The influence social media has on the perception of an individual’s body image can cause detrimental impacts especially among the impressionable youth. In order to mitigate these influences, it is important to increase digital literacy through education of the dangers of social media and the mental impact is has. Being more mindful when being exposed to such media and more aware that everything posted online is never truly authentic and has been manipulated in some form is another helpful tip. Another solution is through limiting social media use, unfollowing harmful accounts and joining communities that encourage and promote body positivity and self-acceptance, this would allow individuals to sustain a healthy relationship within themselves and with social media.