Written by Rian Chase Edited by Vanshi Kumar
As a society, we are always succumbing to the recent trends. Whether it be Adidas Sambas, or leopard print, there's been a point we’re we’ve all found ourselves wrapped up in a new obsession that we discovered on social media. But what happens when the trends are harmful to body image and self-esteem?
I couldn't believe my eyes the first time I saw it for myself. It was a self-proclaimed “fitness influencer” on TikTok. “I just will tell myself that I’m fat so I stop eating!” She proudly claims. “It works!” “Body positivity is of the devil,” says another. And to my surprise, instead of opening the comments to viewers telling these two people how upsetting and wrong it is to teach these messages to others, most were praising them. Most were thanking them. Most were telling them how much those words inspired them to stay skinny.
Then, the more I looked into this matter, the more concerned I became. Posts such as “What I Eat in a Day to Stay Skinny” or “Walk 10,000 steps with me after my 9-5 to stay skinny” advertise extreme dieting or exercise habits to often young and vulnerable audiences, and also go insanely viral, getting up to hundreds of thousands of likes. This has been going on for years, stretching as far back as pro-anorexia diet blogs in the 1990s, and celebrities such as the Kardashians promoting toxic diet culture and extreme measures such as appetite suppressing candies in the 2000s.
The people who post this type of content label themselves as so called “wellness influencers”, so it seems to audiences that their advice is promoting healthy behaviors, when this couldn’t be further from the truth.
This type of content on social media has a strong link to eating disorders. Sometimes, it can be the cause of them, but research shows that people who already have eating disorders consume this content in order to validate their behaviors. As you may have already guessed, this content can leave massive scars for those who view it, because it condones and encourages behavior that is so unhealthy and dangerous. In fact, 40% of girls aged 11-16 have said that they saw content on social media that made them feel insecure about their body image. This includes content such as the promotion of appetite suppressant products, which could easily be purchased online, and even linked in the videos where they are being discussed. This is especially alarming, considering that 50% of young people use social media to research brands before making purchases.
All of this being said, it’s important to distance yourself from those who make you feel insecure about your body image. Block people who make you feel uncomfortable or even delete social media apps off of your phone. “You cannot hate train yourself into loving your body,” says another TikTok user named Maddie Brooks. Instead of taking away lessons on unhealthy ways to lose weight and form your body image from social media, learn, like Maddie has, to put your phone down, surround yourself with positivity from the real world, and love what you see when it comes to your body.
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