By Emma Landsburgh
(Trigger Warning: ED, eating disorder, anorexia)
TikTok has become the new, popular social platform. The site has over 800 million users , 41% being aged between 16-24. For a social platform that hosts a range of young people, it has been called out for the damaging videos it shares. The platform has started to see a rise in pro-ana content, alongside other content that promotes unhealthy ideas considering the body. Many have had to reconsider the app due to the damage this kind of content inflicts upon users. Platforms such as Instagram have faced similar scrutiny over the years, as has Tumblr that saw a large community promoting pro-ana habits and views.
The platforms ‘For You’ page is filled with videos like ‘what I eat in a day’, ‘exercise tips to lose weight fast’ or damaging challenges. There was one challenge where people had to attempt wrapping earphones around their waist twice. Often the diets recommend a small calorie intake of 1200 a day alongside an intense workout. Even on normal videos the comment section is filled with insecurities due to people seeing their ideal body type and saying they will starve themselves and that they hate their body. Whereas on other videos, the comments can be filled with critiques of the people in the videos bodies. Stars on the platform such as Charlie D’Amelio and Addison Rae, have experienced harsh body shaming comments. Tik Tok encourages their users to become very body conscious. It's no wonder why.
Unfortunately, TikTok’s algorithm is personalised and lacks the regulation to stop videos that may be damaging or triggering from surfacing on the ‘For You’ page. Oftentimes you can be scrolling through the ‘For You’ page and come across multiple damaging or triggering videos. The continuous onslaught of these types of videos can have a negative impact and cause a distorted view of the body. This has a direct impact on the younger users of the app. Teens are far more likely to struggle with body image issues and eating disorders. The promotion of these videos instills these thoughts in their head at a younger, more impressionable age. Even those who are older on the app can be impacted by this kind of content. Alongside these videos, damaging adverts are posted within the ‘For You’ page; teeth whitener, fad diets, exercise equipment, and diet monitoring apps. The page is a constant spiral ensuring the users are constantly conscious of their body.
Many believe that TikTok has become ‘pro-skinny’. Of course there is nothing wrong with being skinny or thin, but throughout the app there is a fear of being plus-sized which turns into 'thinspo'. Many users have experimented with the platforms algorithm to see what types of videos will be liked the most and what will receive the most attention due to TikTok promoting them. Often the most liked and viewed video is the one where they are skinny or fit society’s beauty standard. The promotion of these types of videos, rather than more realistic and relatable content, creates a tense, uncomfortable atmosphere. There is absolutely nothing wrong with seeing skinny bodies, but there needs to be diversity in order to create an inclusive platform. By doing this users of the app will not feel triggered by videos. The regulation of the algorithm and promoting videos that portray healthy habits is a way to encourage healthy behaviors in users.
When first downloading the app and setting up your account you are given a list of what types of videos you would like to see. However, these types of triggering videos surface on the ‘For You’ page no matter what you choose. The list needs to have more power and sway of what is posted. However, the rising pro-ana community needs to be reviewed by TikTok. Often these videos endorse damaging habits and views. Coming across these types of videos can cause a relapse.
TikTok needs to start endorsing those who create healthy and supportive content. The platform also needs to start regulating videos and strengthening their algorithm. The site can not continuously allow damaging ideals to be broadcasted. The relationship between creators and this content needs to be assessed. The apps users’ mental and physical health need to be placed at the forefront of their minds as they regulate what is posted.
Even the rhetoric towards bodies is unrelenting, ‘how dare you if your body changes’. However, changing bodies have to become more acceptable. This continuous added pressure is not healthy. Our bodies are going to change throughout our lives. Time will have a significant effect on us. Our bodies move past what it looked like when we were teenagers, they are meant to. We cannot continuously expect people to maintain a certain size, and endorse this kind of rhetoric through social media by advertising apple cider vinegar cleanses and other unhealthy habits. Our bodies will settle, and by listening to your body you can tell. There is no specific shape or way to be healthy, but do not let certain ideals try and make you fit into societal expectations.
Often on TikTok the body is demonised, even more so if you deviate away from social standards. The glorification of body dysmorphic ideas create seedlings of damaging rhetoric to interweave throughout the app. Some even go as far as using filters to mock plus size people. Young people are being fed this kind of language daily through their phone, even by quickly and subconsciously scrolling through an app. This kind of content can affect everyone as it prays on the most common of insecurities.
These damaging ideals resurface over and over again, but there often seems to be a lack of consideration on the app. The body positivity movement offers positivity to all body types. However, these seem to be intercepted by the negative representation, and rather than being uplifting and inclusive they are lost between the damaging videos. No body type should become villainized across social media, bodies are not trends. We cannot limit our bodies to being just trends, our bodies are not for challenges or for trends that mock others. However, on TikTok and other social media there needs to be a realisation on the impact pro-ana rhetoric has and how often people are posed, and aware of the camera and editing process. TikTok needs to be aware of their user base and cannot allow damaging pro-ana talk to run rampant through their users’ accounts.
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