Eating disorders and social media

Navigating social media can be tricky for anyone, but it is particularly difficult if you have an eating disorder.

Unfortunately, there's a lot of harmful content available online – and accessible at the click of a button at any time of the day through our smartphones.

However, we know from those we support that there’s also a lot of positive content on social media which can help people with eating disorders find a sense of community and aid them in recovery. We’ve put together some information to help you and your loved ones stay safe online.

Does social media cause eating disorders?

The relationship between social media and eating disorders is very complex, but it wouldn’t cause a person to develop an eating disorder on its own.

However, harmful content about eating disorders online can have a damaging effect on people with eating disorders. Dangerous content can contribute to an eating disorder worsening or developing if somebody is already at risk.

It’s important to remember that harmful content usually isn’t intended maliciously as the people creating the videos are often unwell themselves. It’s the responsibility of social media platforms to ensure that their platforms are safe for the people using them.

What kind of content is harmful?

Unfortunately, harmful content exists on every social media platform. While sometimes it’s obvious that content is harmful, it can also be hard to recognise which content is dangerous. ‘

• What I Eat In A Day’ videos tend to go into detail about food, calories, exercise, or body checking. Eating disorders are competitive illnesses, and these videos can serve as inspiration for somebody who is unwell.
• Pro-eating disorder content: Content that promotes eating disorders can be common. These include videos that give eating disorder ‘tips’, show body checking, or weight loss.
• Fitness and wellness content: While this kind of content may not be intended to fuel eating disorders, it can also be harmful.
• Recovery content: While it’s intended to help, sometimes recovery content can be triggering for the viewer. For example, recovery stories discussing eating disorder behaviours, weight, and sharing imagery can be harmful.

Another worrying element is that the more somebody interacts with specific types of content, the more the algorithm will recommend similar videos. This can mean that people with or vulnerable to eating disorders are continuously watching harmful content.

How can I keep me or my loved one safe while using social media?

While we firmly believe it’s the responsibility of social media companies to make sure their platforms are safe, there are a few things you can do to limit exposure to harmful content. It can be helpful to:

• Take a break from social media by setting your phone to flight mode during the day, silencing notifications or using apps which limit the amount of time you can spend on social media
• Tap the ‘Not Interested’ button when you see content you don’t want to engage with
• Block, restrict or mute accounts posting harmful content. We’d also encourage you to report them to the social media platform you’re using if you feel comfortable
• Have open and honest conversations with loved ones about how social media is affecting you or them
• Access support and wellbeing resources

Remember:

No matter which platform you’re using, it’s okay to take a break and seek support. If you’re finding things difficult, you’re not alone – we are here to help. Our Helpline is open every weekday from 3pm to 8pm, and you can contact them via phone, e-mail, webchat or letter.