Social media platforms have taken the world by storm. It has become one of the best tools for connection and communication. You can be across the world and find instant connectivity with anyone in any location and access information at any time.
The downside is that life gets put on full display for anyone and everyone to see. All of the influencing can positively impact some, but negatively affect others who are struggling with any type of mental health issues. For those with eating disorders, this way of life can really wreak havoc on their well-being and cause them to experience anxiety.
Here’s a look at how social media can take a toll on someone with an eating disorder.
The Main Classifications of Eating Disorders
The main classifications of eating disorders that affect children and adults are bulimia, anorexia nervosa, and binge eating.
Bulimia is when someone eats more food than normal and then purges to compensate. Anorexia is characterized by an avoidance of food and an overall unhappiness with their body. Binge eating is the most common disorder, where someone eats a large amount of food, but does not purge afterwards.
How Social Media Is Linked to Eating Disorders
According to recent studies, there is a correlation between eating disorders and social media usage. Both young teenage girls and boys using social media are likely to develop some type of eating disorder. Girls have shown slightly higher rates compared to boys their age.
There’s also research to support users of picture-based platforms, like Instagram, are faced with higher rates of eating disorders, body image issues, and poor self-esteem. Being in the instant-gratification era and always having connectivity can take its toll.
Social Media and Body Image
Social media operates on a relatively unregulated basis. Users of all ages can create content any time they want with almost any opinion, fact, or information deemed relevant. The information posted on these platforms so often paints a false narrative. At the end of the day, you see the version of reality that other people want you to see.
When you sees a constant flood of pictures of how people look, what their picture-perfect family looks like, and the social activity they’re up to, it can leave you with some negative emotions. Maybe your family life doesn’t look that same way. Maybe you’re discontent with your appearance.
Feeling envy or shame about your life compared to someone else’s can lead to reduced self-image and harmful eating habits to evoke a sudden change.
Cyberbullying via Social Media
Cyberbullying is bullying or harassment that is done over any type of electronic platform. This can be leaving negative comments on someone’s post, creating posts that poke fun at someone, spreading rumors, making threats, or leaving abusing messages.
If you’re on the receiving end of cyberbullying, it can cause dissatisfaction with your body, decreased body image, lower self-esteem, and general feelings of being inadequate. Each one of these can contribute to the development or continuation of an eating disorder.
You may start to engage in extreme exercise to try to lose weight fast or extreme dieting, causing unhealthy habits. On the other end, the stress from the negative interactions and perceptions can cause over-eating or binge eating as a coping mechanism.
Social Media’s Algorithm
Originally, social media allowed users to see content posted by their connections in a chronological order. Over the recent years, these platforms have created and tweaked their algorithms so users see very specific content.
At the present time, they’re designed to promote attractive content for your demographic. If you’ve ever looked at an influencer’s page or health-oriented content, there are additional ads that tend to target weight loss or various trendy diets.
Are you struggling with an eating disorder? Is your social media use taking a toll on your well-being? Contact us today for therapy for teens.
