Young girls and women often face a higher chance of developing eating problems like anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating, which can be very hard for them to overcome.
Health experts point out that Social Media Disorders in Youth may encourage at-risk youth to develop eating disorders by celebrating unhealthy thinness and circulating false nutrition advice. Young women and girls are usually the hardest hit by anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder, but men are increasingly affected as well.
Between 2000 and 2018, the number of people around the world who experienced an eating disorder grew sharply, nearly doubling as social media became more widespread. Experts who assist teenagers in overcoming these disorders face major difficulties due to the spread of incorrect diet and body image advice by influencers on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. This rise in Social Media Disorders in Youth is a growing concern for health professionals everywhere.
Impact of Social Media on Eating Disorders
Carole Copti, a dietitian and nutrition specialist from France, told AFP that nowadays, it’s impossible to treat eating disorders without considering a person’s social media habits. She said Social Media Disorders in Youth acts as both a trigger and a fast track for these conditions, while also creating new challenges during recovery.
The reasons behind eating disorders are complicated and include psychological issues, genetics, life surroundings, and social factors, all playing a role in increasing risk. According to Nathalie Godart, a psychiatrist working with young people in France, Social Media Disorders in Youth doesn’t cause these disorders by itself but can be the breaking point that worsens the situation.
She explained to AFP that social media pushes ideas of being very thin, following strict diets, and exercising nonstop, which can worsen the health risks for those already struggling.
Social Media Disorders in Youth
The #skinnytok trend on TikTok is a recent example where harmful advice encourages people to eat much less, often causing feelings of guilt and shame. These are clear symptoms of Social Media Disorders in Youth.
Charlyne Buigues, a French nurse who specializes in eating disorders, says social media helps spread these problems by making them seem normal. She criticized videos that show young girls with anorexia revealing their fragile bodies and others with bulimia demonstrating dangerous behaviors, which are signs of Social Media Disorders in Youth in action.
Buigues shared that some people think using laxatives or making themselves vomit is a good way to lose weight, but it’s actually very dangerous and can hurt the heart. Eating disorders can also affect the heart, make it hard to have children, and lead to serious sadness or suicidal thoughts.
Anorexia is the deadliest of all mental health conditions. In France, eating disorders are the second leading cause of early death among young people aged 15 to 24.
Copti explained that social media can trap people who are already going through these struggles. Many of them feel unsure about themselves, but when they post photos showing their extreme weight loss, they receive likes, comments, and followers. That attention can feel like approval, even if it’s encouraging something harmful, deepening Social Media Disorders in Youth.
The problem grows when this online fame turns into a way to earn money. At that point, the illness stops looking like a problem and starts feeling like an achievement making it even harder to step away and get help.
Buigues shared the painful story of a young girl who goes live on TikTok while making herself vomit. She revealed that TikTok gives her money for these videos, which she then uses to buy food. Sadly, she doesn’t seem to understand how much this is hurting her, as she’s stuck in a harmful cycle showing her illness to survive.
Copti explained that recovering from eating disorders has become much harder, and Social Media Disorders in Youth is a big part of the problem. It doesn’t just slow down the healing process—it also creates confusion and makes things more difficult. Many young people trust diet tips they find online, even when those tips are wrong or harmful.
She said her appointments sometimes feel like arguments. “I often have to explain the basics, like why eating only 1,000 calories a day isn’t healthy. That’s not a proper diet that’s almost starving. And skipping meals isn’t something to be proud of,” she added.
She said that what patients see online has a strong influence on them, and her 45-minute weekly sessions can’t compete with the many hours they spend on TikTok every day.
Godart raised concerns about more and more “fake coaches” sharing wrong and sometimes harmful nutrition advice.
“These social media personalities have way more influence than official health organizations,” she explained. “We work hard to share clear and honest advice with young people, even though there are resources available.”
Buigues tries to report harmful content on Instagram, but she feels it doesn’t change much. “The videos stay up, and these accounts usually aren’t taken down. It’s really tiring,” she said.
Because of this, Buigues has advised some patients to think about deleting their social media accounts, especially TikTok. “It may sound strict, but until they learn more, this app is too risky,” she added.
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