OPINION: The Rise of Instagram and Eating Disorders

CNBC

Teenagers are no strangers to the positive and negative effects of social media. Instagram in particular has become a platform so integrated into the daily lives of adolescents, that often, its power goes unnoticed. In 2021, over half of Instagram’s users were under the age of 34 with the majority of them being females in their late teens, according to Statista Research Department. In 2018, Polaris, a youth mental health care facility in California, recorded that 50 percent of teenage girls and 30 percent of teenage boys in the US exhibit dangerous weight control behaviours including fasting, laxative abuse, vomiting, and over-exercising. 

These statistics have no correlation on their own, but with 73 percent of American teens saying that Instagram is the top way product advertisements can reach them, experts agree that it is capable of promoting extremely toxic ideals. Research from The Wall Street Journal in October 2021 found that Instagram not only glorifies eating disorders, but promotes this perspective through their algorithm. This confirms the speculations that Instagram is dangerous to those who may be struggling with anorexia, bulimia, and other eating disorders. These findings are imperative as they show that the demographics most susceptible to eating disorders are the ones using the app the most.

One of the most damaging fads found on Instagram is the trend of people showcasing ‘before and after’ pictures. In some instances, this can be a harmless display of physical progress for athletes, body builders, and others. However, it becomes an issue when these pictures are used alongside captions that encourage unnecessary weight loss and send the message that a slimmer version of oneself is a better version, regardless of what strategies are used to get to that point. The diet and nutrition industry thrives off these images, as they profit from convincing viewers that they can achieve the same results as the person pictured. Some so-called “fitness gurus” on Instagram use this trend to negatively motivate young followers who don’t know better to strive to copy their physique. It communicates to youth that this is how they need to look in order to be accepted. One must look like the “fitness guru” to be the best version of themselves and have the same success as that individual. 

Spreading messages like this is dangerous. Human bodies do not look the same, regardless of if they follow the same diet and exercise regimen. Before and after photos are just that—a photo. They do not detail the potentially unhealthy habits used to attain a specific body shape. When they are used to shame followers into striving for a figure that could be unattainable for biological reasons, it can lead to a spiral of low self-worth. If these messages and images are promoted through Instagram every day, it is clear why some teens may turn to unhealthy eating and weight loss behaviours to strive for the same results.

With the increase in Instagram’s popularity among adolescents, teens are constantly exposed to these ideals. Before the rise of social media, eating disorder-promoting content was only found in magazines and billboards. Now, teenagers have these billboards in their pockets and on their person 24/7. On average, teens spend five to seven hours on social media per day, according to a 2019 survey from Common Sense Media, with Instagram being the preferred platform. While not all of this time is being spent on Instagram, even 15 minutes of exposure is a sufficient amount for eating disorder promotion. This accessibility becomes hazardous as there is no break for those already predisposed from being bombarded with negative messaging. Diet companies and influencers thrive off of this construct as the social norms on the platform have become extremely geared towards one’s physical appearance. Having these narratives displayed constantly numbs young users to the fact that a lot of the messages have hidden harmful connotations. Over time, these beliefs become inherent due to the consistency of this content, which can then lead to the behaviours that health experts are so worried about Instagram influencing.

Last October, CNN found that Instagram’s algorithms pushed “accounts promoting extreme dieting and eating disorders” to users that already followed diet accounts or other pro-eating-disorder accounts, which are not supposed to be on the platform in the first place.

 What makes this finding so terrifying is the validation it gives followers who are already battling disordered thoughts relating to eating and weight. Not only does it enhance the toxic belief system that causes those behaviours, but it also validates the negative thoughts those teens may be having. Pamela Key, a psychology professor at Florida State University, described this concept as ‘confirmation bias’ as youth are given confirmation through Instagram that their biases towards food and exercise are correct. A Facebook representative claimed that Instagram denied that they were providing access to pro-eating-disorder content, despite there being thousands of posts on their platform under the hashtag “ProAnaTips”—which is a common abbreviation for anorexia. This displayed their ignorance to health care professionals advocating on behalf of this cause and the millions of youths looking to this company to filter out negative influences. 

In October 2021, The Wall Street Journal found that for 1 in 3 teenage girls, Instagram exacerbates their body image issues. This sheer amount of power is lethal, and the abuse of algorithms plays directly into this statistic.  

Experts know that Instagram can’t cause eating disorders directly, but it is certainly a contributing factor to developing the habits that lead to this mental illness. The false messaging thrusted upon users, constant stream of these beliefs, and systematic promotion of content targeted to those most vulnerable, show the clear link between this platform and disordered eating. When paired with the simultaneous rise of eating disorders in the specific demographic known to use Instagram the most, which has been founded by numerous scientific researchers, it is clear that Instagram and eating disorders are connected. Society needs to wake up and realize the negative consequences that accompany the power that social media has been given. This dangerously low standard of content is life threatening.