Impact of Social Media on Eating Disorders in Adolescents
Adolescence is an age when both appearance and peer pressure rule the mind. So it’s no big deal that teenagers are obsessed with how they are scrutinized online. Adolescents who use social media excessively, probably develop eating disorders as stated in new research studies. Those suffering from eating disorders can habitually suffer from depression or anxiety and may get addicted to drugs. Sharing the Impact of Social Media on Eating Disorders in Adolescents.
What is an Eating Disorder?
An eating disorder is misinterpreted as a lifestyle choice. But in reality, it is a serious and fatal mental health illness. It is related to an extreme disturbance in eating patterns and associated thoughts and emotions. Fixation with food, body shape, and weight, perhaps points to an eating disorder. Common eating disorders are bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder
Anorexia nervosa
Even when they are alarmingly skinny, adolescents with anorexia nervosa perceive themselves as weighty. They weigh themselves constantly, restrict the amount of food they eat, often exercise overly, and force themselves to puke or take purgatives to reduce weight. Anorexia nervosa accounts for the most deaths of any mental disorder. They may die of suicide or problems accompanying starvation.
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is contrast to Anorexia. Those suffering from bulimia nervosa have repeated and frequent periods of eating big quantities of food. Recompense for the binge-eating is enforced vomiting, fasting, extreme use of laxatives, or all of these together. Those suffering from bulimia nervosa can be a little underweight, normal, or obese.
Binge-eating Disorder
The most common eating disorder in the U.S is Binge-eating. This disorder is synonymous with gluttony. Dissimilar to bulimia nervosa, binge-eaters do not go for fasting, purging, or over-exercise. As a consequence, persons with binge-eating disorders are fat or obese.
Impact of Social Media on Eating Disorders in Adolescents
Statistics show that 69% of children own a smartphone by the time they are 12. Almost all of them are on social media. The most popular platform is Instagram. Adolescents go through mood swings subject to the number of likes and comments.
Before the blitzkrieg of social media by 2010, teenagers compared themselves with their peers only when they had free time. Now the endless bombardment of picture-perfect filtered images has transformed mindsets drastically. One study in 2016 found that non-stop use of social media and damaging body image issues end in perpetual body dieting, self-objectification, and body scrutiny. The negative impact of body image stems from comparison with others while scrolling social media channels.
There are triggers to comprehend the Impact of Social Media on Eating Disorders in Adolescents–
1. An Idealistic View of Body Image
Social media is flooded with pictures of models, celebrities, sportspersons, and the newbie social media “Influencer Models”. Tweens and Teens idolize them and desire to be like them. These photos are filtered, airbrushed, and chosen out of many. These pictures are shot when they are at their best. Adolescents believe that these doctored images are for real and want to ape them.
According to data, 8% of Instagram accounts are phony, and they usually do not share their personal pictures but those of celebrities and supermodels. It is misleading the youngsters.
Studies indicate that until the ’20s, maturity and worthy decision-making abilities are not formed. It is not surprising that teenagers fall for whatever they see on social media and accept it as the gospel truth. Especially girls who have a negative body factor playing on their minds and already suffering from an eating disorder are sitting ducks. They are always looking for approval from their peers and social media followers. The pressure of matching up to their idols leads to unnecessary pressure that can cause eating disorders.
2. Less real interactions
Girls with eating disorders like bulimia nervosa and binge-eating, usually indulge in their eating in private. A feeling of shame arising from their actions and curtailing interaction gives them a feeling of loneliness. This trait of loneliness is closely linked with eating disorders. Teens these days prefer to connect on social media rather than make friends in real life. They find it easy to socialize as the internet gives a lot of ease and anonymity. Social media is a great distraction that keeps them away from meeting their friends in person.
3. Feeling Left Out
Teenagers with eating disorders generally have few friends and have issues, socializing. Data shows, that there is substantial proof; recovery from eating disorders depends on support from their social circle and consistent social interaction. Social media can easily make you feel left out. Friends keep posting pictures of their fun activities, or even people you follow may be having a great time while you are brooding alone at home. Such things can worsen things and stir up the emotions of teenagers who are on the road to recovery. They blame their body or behavior for not being invited by their friends. Extreme starving or bingeing is a consequence of this situation.
4. Cyberbullying
Tweens and teens are not aware of the negative side of social media. As stated by the National Eating Disorders Association, 65% of persons acknowledge that bullying caused eating. Bullying in school is reported and may be punished. But the anonymity in Social media gives bullies a chance to go too far as they cannot be caught. Research is going on to verify that regular school bullying is milder than mental cyberbullying. Teenaged girls who already have eating disorders are easy targets as they are body shamed. The results of this could be shattering. Cyberbullying causes fear, social anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, all fallouts or reasons for eating disorders.
5. Easy contact with pro-Eating Disorder Fraternity
The internet is full of pro-eating disorder websites that are known as “pro-ana” aka pro-anorexia, and “pro-mia” aka pro-bulimia. Social media gives them a comprehensive platform to put forth their ideas. The fraternities are formed especially to target those with destructive behaviors linked with eating disorders. They refer to them as lifestyle choices and strongly refute that they are mental ailments. The members of these fraternities share stories, pictures, and even tricky ploys and instructions.
NEDA’s Head of Youth Outreach, Claire Mysko, said, “We live in a culture where eating disorders thrive because of the messages we’re exposed to. Social media heightens that exposure.” She further elucidated that actions related to eating disorders, such as seeking approval, comparison, rivalry, and fixation, are exaggerated, and the spotlight is on them via social media.
This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with VoxBox and Journey Matters.
‘This post is part of Blogchatter’s CauseAChatter’
Do check out Empathy & Mental Health are Interlinked, How I exorcised the depression Monster in 2020, 10 ways how a dog can help in depression, 10 best and worst things to say to someone with depression, Complementary and alternative therapies for depression.
@wordsmithkaur
@wordsmithkaur
Impact of social media is a serious issue these days. My daughter is 13. We gave her a phone this year because we felt she need it. But I am very thankful that understands the drawbacks of being on social media. All her other friends are on Instagram but she opted not to go that way. Phone and social media both are addictive. Sometimes it makes me wonder if these kids will learn the human interaction.
Very important post. The problem is quite acute and deserves serious attention from parents and educators.
Eating disorders are so common but there is less awareness around it. I agree social media affect tender mind of teens and young adult negatively and put a pressure on them to being perfect and have an ideal figure all the time. teaching your kids the importance of real food and good nutrition for body, can make a major difference. indeed a unique topic Harjeet. loved your write up.
You have picked up the perfect topic. Social media have many such negative impacts on our lives. Strange but true, what we are eating and the way are eating is not at all good for health.
This is very informative post and required. I was alarmed to know that 69% of children own a smartphone by the time they are 12. That’s shocking and so are the symptoms
There was a time Supermodels confessed to being Bulimic and being anorexic was mandatory for being a model , imagine the impact it would have on teens who are already trying to deal with the change sin their bodies and seeking peer acceptance. I am glad that even fashion houses are taking note of this and this trend is being decried now. Great post !
I am always impressed with your range of knowledge and the subjects you choose to write on. Social media does indeed create a false world and harm the self-worth of many individuals, most of all teenagers.
Social media and their endless trends make the child often feel left out if they don’t participate and here parents need to make them understand the value of real interactions. Your post is perfect read for all parents and also for teenagers to understand what are they lacking running behind the social media and inturn effecting their health.
I couldn’t agree more than this. Every pointer is indeed a bitter truth which we are witnessing around in day-to-day life. Social media has its pros and con; one needs to understand and follow some discipline before entering the social media world.
This topic not hectic need attention but awareness too. You have covered all the points beautifully and yes social media influences kids to a great extent. It is difficult to keep a check . I wasn’t aware that he internet is full of pro-eating disorder websites that are known as “pro-ana” aka pro-anorexia, and “pro-mia” aka pro-bulimia. Learned something new.
This topic just not need attention but awareness too. You have covered all the points beautifully and yes social media influences kids to a great extent. It is difficult to keep a check . I wasn’t aware that he internet is full of pro-eating disorder websites that are known as “pro-ana” aka pro-anorexia, and “pro-mia” aka pro-bulimia. Learned something new.
Eating disorders are common among teens , and social media has a bad influence on teenagers. We need to educate them to have a healthy diet and worry much about figure.
A very much-needed post and the impact of social media on teens is the most burning problem I would say, that all the parents have to address sooner. The sooner, the better I would say.
Yes a friend and I were just talking about this today. The exposure is so much that it’s proving to be dangerous….
Very well written and such a useful topic. These eating disorders maybe a common thing but we need to take care of this very seriously. Thanks for sharing this informative post.
Impact of social media is a serious issue not only for the adolescents, but for kids as well. The instagram perfect pictures of others influence these teens badly. We should teach them about the pros of healthy dietary habits to help them get rid of all these.
I think the only way around this is communicating. As a teen, I often refrained from talking about my feelings with anyone but my mother. And that has kept me afloat. As a parent, I would want to cultivate a similar relationship.
Social media has many adverse effects on children and teenagers. Your post enlightened us on how it can be bad for their food habits. It’s a serious problem and should be tackled before it takes a nasty turn.
This is a very important topic. Social media has added to the pressure of perfect bodies. Teenagers are at an age that these messages have the most impact.
I agree with all the points you have made, Harjeet. Glad you wrote about this. I have come across youngsters who are so conscious of their bodies and want to look like celebrities. eating disorders are truly on the rise.
Eating disorder is not uncommon. Be it children or grown-ups. The major factor is the internet, social media and the virtual world schedule.
I am glad someone has noticed and voiced it.
Your post is on point. Teenagers are the most susceptible to negative messaging. Earlier it was peer pressure that led to eating disorders. Social media has increased it manifold. We need more awareness campaigns.
Such an insightful topic this is. Kids must be given proper knowledge about eating right before they fall prey to social media and end up having these disorders
A very important topic & very well written post. Social media has its own boon & bane. Of late i feel the constant time spent on phone or computer has only worsened the situation. Even kids as young as 6-7 years old are social media crazy….i have seen them put on acts, grownup clothes & make-up and what surprises me is that parents are ok with all this on a public platform.
I believe the youth of today is facing so many more pressures than we ever did. Their whole life is out in the open and any wrong move can result in social media bullying and trolling. It should be mandated for schools and other institutions to have support groups and education to help these kids deal and channelize these issues properly to help with such disorders and many more mental disorders.
This is very topic that needs be addressed. I agree social media is created wrong image of how you look and feel. You covered all important points here. I really did not know about these disorders you mentioned here.