It started when Equip Family Mentor Christa Marlow’s daughter began exploring “healthy” lifestyle ideas on Instagram at the age of 15. “Unfortunately, the algorithms quickly directed her towards content centered on weight loss, food restriction, intermittent fasting, and, eventually, explicit pro-anorexia material,” Marlow says. “These ‘pro-ana communities’ which idealize and promote eating disorders, had a devastating effect on her.”

Marlow’s daughter soon developed severely restricted eating habits and became compulsively focused on exercise. Not long after, as Marlow puts it, anorexia firmly took hold. “Her social media feeds became dominated by pro-eating disorder posts, which unfortunately reinforced her illness and significantly complicated her recovery,” she says.

Marlow’s story is heartbreaking, but not unique. Social media has a significant impact on the mental health of young people, and this includes heightened risk for developing body image issues, disordered eating, or eating disorders. Read on to learn everything you need to know about eating disorders and social media, including why it can be so harmful and expert-endorsed strategies for protecting your child from the risks.

Social media, young people, and mental health

It’s no secret that social media has a massive impact on young people. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, up to 95% of young people aged 13 to 17 report using a social media platform. Nearly two thirds of teenagers report using social media every day, and one third use social media “almost constantly.” That nonstop exposure to platforms like Instagram and TikTok can have serious consequences: according to that same report from DHHS, children and adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of mental health problems as those without such exposure. Considering that teens spend an average of 3.5 hours a day on social media, this is particularly concerning.

Beyond raising risk of anxiety and depression, another way that social media impacts mental health is its effect on eating and body image concerns. A 2022 survey found that when asked about the impact of social media on their body image, 46% of adolescents aged 13 to 17 said social media makes them feel worse. And as a 2017 study found, there is “a strong and consistent association between social media use and eating concerns” in young adults between 19 and 32 years old.

Research shows that most adolescents in the United States have been engaging with media in general (including TV, movies, podcasts, etc) on a daily basis throughout their youth, and social media in particular has both positive and negative effects. While nearly half of those surveyed reported that social media improved friendships and the majority felt it helped them feel more socially connected and emotionally supported by their peers, many reported that it had a negative impact on their grades and their body image.

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How social media increases eating disorder risk

It’s true that explicit “pro-ana” and “thinspiration” content has existed in corners of the internet for decades, but the landscape has changed dramatically over time. “Social media has been both subtly and actively promoting eating disorder-related content for a long while,” says Equip Therapy Lead Jonathan Levine, LCSW. “But one major shift now compared to 10 years ago is the power and prevalence of algorithms dictating people's feed, versus following people intentionally.”

In other words, while pro-eating disorder content has been available for years, you generally had to actively seek it out—now it’s often served up, unsolicited. “There were a plethora of ‘pro-ana’ blogs on Tumblr and throughout the internet that required someone sending you a link or finding it on your own,” Levine says. “The shift towards algorithmic social media has increased damage by bringing people to eating disorder content without their direct intention or goal. This is certainly worse and more dangerous: what once required informed consent—or at least curiosity—now can be programmed to be brought to you, leading people to spiral down into dangerous beliefs that normalize disordered behaviors and increasing risk for the development of an eating disorder.”

“Popular trends like ‘What I Eat in a Day’ and ‘Get Ready With Me’ videos can easily expose young users to dangerous content,” Marlow says. “A particularly alarming recent trend on TikTok, known as ‘SkinnyTok,’ openly promotes toxic diet culture. While movements promoting body positivity, body neutrality, and Health at Every Size have gained traction, the pressure for perfection is also amplified by advanced filters and editing tools.”

It’s worth acknowledging that some social media platforms have implemented official policies against the promotion of eating disorders. For example, certain hashtags are blocked on these platforms, and the processes to report and block harmful content have become easier to navigate. However, Marlow points out that pro-eating disorder communities have adapted to the changes in order to avoid detection, by concealing themselves within seemingly harmless wellness, fitness, and diet communities and utilizing less regulated chat apps.

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Tips for protecting your kids from harmful content

To parents, all of the above can feel extremely scary—but while it may be unrealistic (if not impossible) to completely shelter your kids from social media, there are ways to reduce its risks. Marlow and Levine shared their insights on how parents can protect their children from harmful content and help them build a healthy relationship with food and their body during this vulnerable stage of life.

Keep close watch

Given the amount of negative or dangerous content online, it’s crucial for parents to remain involved in monitoring what their kids see, and being open to discussing it. “Regularly review your child's social media activity, ideally in a way that fosters open dialogue and trust,” Marlow says. “Talk to them directly about any concerning content you observe.”

Levine agrees, noting that parents should also feel empowered to utilize safety measures and available tools whenever possible. “Use parental controls,” he says. “Watch your child's social media feed with them occasionally to gauge the type of content they're receiving and interacting with.”

Among the options available, Marlow suggests tools like Bark or Qustodio, and features such as restricted modes on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, which can help filter out potentially harmful content. “Setting limits on screen time and implementing a ‘no-device’ policy overnight can also be beneficial,” she says.

Encourage them to follow body positive and diverse accounts

In addition to helping kids find and follow accounts dedicated to body diversity and Health at Every Size (HAES), Marlow suggests unfollowing or blocking accounts that promote dieting, extreme fitness, or “thinspo.” Doing so not only helps protect them from harmful content, but also provides an opportunity to highlight the ways in which social media is misleading.

“Engage in regular, open, and honest conversations about the potential dangers of social media,” she says. “Help them understand that many online images are heavily filtered and edited and do not reflect reality. Discuss why certain types of content can be harmful, the impact of comparison culture, and how social media often promotes unrealistic appearance standards.”

Monitor your own language

While social media is full of potential hazards, don’t forget about the offline factors that could negatively impact your child too, like the use of derogatory, fatphobic, or otherwise diet culture-coded terminology. “Utilize neutral language around body types, food, and exercise, and avoid attaching your child's worth to their body,” Levine says.

“Promoting a body-positive home environment is equally important,” Marlow adds. “Emphasize health and overall well-being rather than focusing solely on appearance. Model positive attitudes towards food and body image, and avoid negative self-talk or negative comments about anyone's body. Encourage a balanced lifestyle that includes a variety of foods and enjoyable physical activities, rather than focusing on restriction or exercise as a means to achieve a specific body type.”

Stay vigilant for potential warning signs.

“Be on the lookout for any changes in your child's eating habits, such as expressing a desire to eat ‘healthier’ or cutting out previously enjoyed foods, as well as an increasing obsession with weight, exercise routines, or appearance,” Marlow advises. “Stay alert for changes in mood, relationships, or signs of emotional withdrawal. Trust your instincts and seek professional help promptly if you have concerns about your child's behavior.”

Marlow reiterates that while social media can offer some benefits for young people—like connecting with friends and family and fostering creative expression—it can also be extremely detrimental to their mental health. “The constant exposure to comparisons, unrealistic appearance standards, unhealthy diet advice, and eating disorder content poses significant risks,” she says. “Young minds are particularly vulnerable to the negative aspects of social media, as they are in the process of developing their sense of identity and self-worth.”

The Equip takeaway on eating disorders and social media

Despite the abundance of harmful content circulating on social media, there is good news here: parents have the authority and influence to truly make a difference and help protect their kids from these hazards in myriad ways. “Social media is prevalent and disordered eating is normalized—as are eating disorders in some parts of the internet,” Levine says. “Stay vigilant and model behaviors that value your own worth as related to your actions, not your body or what you eat. Social media is powerful, but role modeling is more powerful!”

If you’re concerned that your child might have an eating disorder, take Equip’s eating disorder screener or schedule a call to talk through your concerns.