Social Media's Impact on Eating Disorders in Children and Teens
In the years since the advent of social media, researchers have conducted countless studies on its effects, particularly on children and teenagers. Over and over, these studies have shown that heightened social media use harms mental health in children and teens, especially regarding body image. Social media allows users to constantly post and view photos of themselves and others, often leading to comparison and, in some cases, eating disorders.
Written and edited by our team of expert legal content writers and reviewed and approved by Attorney Matthew Bergman
- Content last updated on:
- November 19, 2024
Written and edited by our team of expert legal content writers and reviewed and approved by:
Attorney Matthew Bergman
- How Has Social Media Contributed to Eating Disorders in Teens?
- The Role of Algorithms in Promoting Eating Disorder Content
- The Impact of Filters and Photo Editing
- Social Comparison and Peer Pressure
- Impact on Teen Eating Disorders by Social Platform
- TikTok
- Snapchat
- YouTube
- The Impact of Eating Disorder Content on Teens
- Common Types of Eating Disorders in Teens
- What Are the Signs That My Child Has an Eating Disorder?
- Legal Options for Social Media-Caused Eating Disorders in Teens
According to a 2023 report from NBC News, experts deem it “impossible” to separate the rise of adolescent eating disorders from social media.
“From 2018 to 2022, healthcare visits related to eating disorders more than doubled among people under age 17. With more than 80 percent of teenagers using social media platforms, experts say underlying algorithms encourage disordered eating and reinforce negative body image in youth.”
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How Has Social Media Contributed to Eating Disorders in Teens?
In the age of social media, more and more teenagers are attempting to emulate unrealistic images by dieting, over-exercising, and other methods. Unfortunately, these efforts often result in eating disorders and mental health issues, such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.
“Recent scientific studies have shown that heavy use of social media is a significant factor in the development of eating disorders, leading to a noticeable increase in diagnoses over the past five to ten years. This frequent social media exposure often results in negative body image and body dysmorphia, both of which are extreme risk factors for the onset of eating disorders.”
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One global public health report in 2023 analyzed 50 studies in 17 countries and confirmed that social media use contributes to these issues due to idealized thinness, self-objectification, pro-eating-disorder content, and image-oriented platforms. The study found higher BMIs, female gender, and pre-existing body concerns to be key factors for disordered eating among social media users. In particular, social media algorithms, filters, highly edited photos, and social comparison put teens at the highest risk.
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The Role of Algorithms in Promoting Eating Disorder Content
Algorithms provide users with personalized content that is often extreme, unmonitored, and designed to keep users engaged for longer periods. Social media platforms generally use algorithms to promote content attractive to users who fit a certain demographic or lifestyle. For example, very “health-oriented” individuals may be bombarded with posts about exercise, weight loss, and extreme dieting.
“The algorithms on platforms like TikTok and Instagram direct vulnerable kids to unsolicited dangerous and harmful content, including videos and user groups encouraging eating disorders. These companies are aware of the harm it causes, particularly in young girls, with images and videos promoting unhealthy eating. We must hold them accountable for the harm they have caused, and to prevent further injuries and deaths resulting from use of its products by minors.”
The Impact of Filters and Photo Editing
With modern photo editing technology, it is often impossible to tell whether a photo posted online has been retouched or filtered. Videos and pictures from celebrities and influencers are often modified to reflect an idealized image divorced from reality. Social media platforms generally do not require users to disclose whether photos have been edited. Pervasive editing in ads, videos, and pictures featuring celebrities and social media influencers has increased concerns about body image among youth. Young people viewing these posts do not always realize how much they have been altered.
Social Comparison and Peer Pressure
After seeing photos of others, children and teenagers may feel envious or discontent with their own appearance, developing low self-esteem. For women and girls, the ideal body is often portrayed as very thin with perfect skin and teeth. For men, muscular and tall. When young social media users compare their photos with those of others—particularly those that have been highly edited—they may feel their body is less than “ideal.” Cyberbullying on social media may contribute to this issue when young users face negative comments about their appearance.
Impact on Teen Eating Disorders by Social Platform
Many social media platforms contribute to eating disorders in children and teens, particularly platforms that are heavily photo or video-oriented. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube are now facing a wave of lawsuits for poorly moderating harmful content and luring young people into spending more time online.
TikTok
In 2022, researchers reported that TikTok’s algorithms promote videos about self-harm and eating disorders to vulnerable teens. Content about eating disorders has been viewed on the app billions of times. The sheer amount of harmful content on TikTok makes self-regulation by users impossible. Experts say government enforcement is needed to protect children from negative body image and eating disorder-related content. If your child developed an eating disorder due to content on TikTok, you may be eligible to file a TikTok addiction lawsuit.
Instagram is an almost completely photo-based platform that filters photos from influencers and celebrities to the top of users’ feeds. Many teens feel intensely pressured to conform to the image standards set by this content. Even though Instagram has said that it removes posts that encourage eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia, one 2021 report found that the platform still pushed this content to adults and teenagers alike. Researchers even found Instagram accounts full of images of severely underweight women shown to users interested in losing weight.
Researchers also found that leaked documents from Instagram proved that its executives are aware that they make body image issues worse for young girls, continuing to push content promoting extreme weight loss and failing to enforce their own moderation policies. The Social Media Victims Law Center can help you explore the possibility of filing an Instagram eating disorder lawsuit if you or your child were harmed by content on the app.
Snapchat
Like Instagram, Snapchat is a photo-based platform. A 2020 study found that increased use of Instagram and Snapchat was associated with significantly higher scores on a global eating disorder questionnaire, as well as higher rates of disordered eating among young girls. Filters are a key feature of Snapchat, altering users’ appearances and creating unrealistic beauty standards. If your child developed an eating disorder because of content on Snapchat, you may be eligible to file a Snapchat lawsuit.
YouTube
YouTube is a video-based platform like TikTok, though it is mostly dedicated to longer-form content. Unfortunately, these longer videos increase exposure to potential misinformation and toxic content that can lead to eating disorders. Many fitness and diet influencers on the platform providing advice to viewers are not credible.
In April 2023, YouTube announced a policy change prohibiting content featuring eating disorder-related behavior like restricting calories. It also set age restrictions on content discussing disordered eating behaviors. Still, content about extreme weight loss is allowed on the platform.
The Impact of Eating Disorder Content on Teens
Eating disorder content on social media impacts all teenagers, though studies have shown that young girls are often at a higher risk. Some of the physical and mental harm that excessive social media use can cause include:
- Distorted body image
- Eating disorders
- Low self-esteem
- Addiction to social media
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Self-harm
- Suicide
- Sexual violence
Common Types of Eating Disorders in Teens
There are several types of eating disorders that children and adults may develop, particularly after being exposed to harmful content online. The most common types of eating disorders children and teens may develop include:
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is a condition that causes people to avoid food or severely restrict their eating habits. They may weigh themselves often and be consistently unhappy with their body image, no matter how underweight they become. There are two subtypes of anorexia:
- Restrictive Type – Individuals limit their food intake and may engage in extreme dieting or fasting.
- Binge-Purge Type – Individuals engage in binge-eating episodes followed by purging behaviors, such as vomiting and excessive use of laxatives or diuretics.
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is a condition in which people eat abnormally large amounts of food, followed by behavior that compensates for overeating, such as forced vomiting, excessive use of diuretics, fasting, or excessive exercise. This condition can result in significant health problems.
Binge-Eating Disorder
Individuals with binge-eating disorders have recurring episodes of eating abnormally large amounts of food. However, unlike bulimia, individuals with a binge-eating disorder do not purge, leading to weight gain over time. This is the most common eating disorder in the United States.
What Are the Signs That My Child Has an Eating Disorder?
There are several signs of eating disorders parents should look out for in their children—some universal and some limited to specific disorders. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder may be identified by the following symptoms:
Symptoms of Anorexia Nervosa
- Extremely restricted eating
- Emaciation
- Relentless pursuit of thinness
- Intense fear of gaining weight
- Distorted body image
As the disease progresses, it may lead to additional problems, such as dry skin, constipation, low blood pressure, brain damage, and organ failure.
Symptoms of Bulimia Nervosa
While people with anorexia may be underweight, individuals with bulimia may be underweight, average-weight, or overweight. Symptoms include:
- Worn tooth enamel and increasingly sensitive and decaying teeth
- Acid reflux disorder
- Chronically inflamed and sore throat
- Intestinal distress and irritation from laxative abuse
- Electrolyte imbalance
Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder
People with binge-eating disorder may struggle with:
- Severe body image issues
- Eating unusually large amounts of food within a short period
- Eating even when full or not hungry
- Feeling ashamed, distressed, or guilty about eating
Legal Options for Social Media-Caused Eating Disorders in Teens
If you believe your child’s eating disorder was caused by social media use, contact us today to discuss your legal rights and options. The Social Media Victims Law Center works to hold social media companies legally accountable for the harm they inflict on vulnerable users. Reach out to learn more about social media addiction lawsuits in a free, no-obligation consultation.
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