In today’s digital age, social media has a significant impact on society’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Unfortunately, many people underestimate the influence social media can have on their lives. This can result in potentially negative and even life-threatening consequences. One instance is the connection between social media and eating disorders. Keep reading to learn more about social media effects on eating disorders below.
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4 Ways Social Media Can Impact Eating Disorders
Whether you realize it or not, social media can significantly impact your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This includes how you view yourself and others. And, millions of US adults, teens, and even children use social media each day. Below we’ll explore how can social media impact eating disorders so you can understand what to look out when using social media.
- Unrealistic Beauty Standards
Social media oftentimes glamorizes unrealistic beauty standards, no matter the cost. For example, typically unrealistic beauty standards like having a certain physical appearance, like a thin appearance, can be popularized and receive more attention than other photos/content that do not fit these unrealistic beauty standards. This can unconsciously make some individuals wrongfully assume that these unrealistic beauty standards are normal, and thus may go to unhealthy measures to try and conform to these unrealistic beauty standards.
- Photoshop or Altered Images
Many photos on social media today are photoshopped or altered to portray a certain appearance. For example, some social media users can post photoshopped images appearing thinner than they actually are. Unfortunately, oftentimes those who consume this photoshopped content are unaware that these images have been altered. This again can contribute to unrealistic expectations, and cause some to consider unhealthy, disordered eating to achieve a certain appearance they view on social media.
- Content That Encourages Eating Disorders
Next, social media can be a great way to relay information to others. However, this does not mean that all information on social media is correct or healthy. Sometimes, some content on social media can encourage disordered eating to achieve a certain appearance. Additionally, other less direct ways that social media effects eating disorders is through popularized weight loss and weight transformation content. While some of this content can be informative to a certain extent, it’s critical the individual seeing that content uses discretion as some videos can promote eating disorder-like behaviors to achieve a particular appearance.
- Resources, Education, and Awareness
Last but not least, while social media can be dangerous and lead many down to unconsciously consider eating disorder-like behavior, some social media can be healthy and informative. This includes content surrounding healthy eating and eating disorder awareness. This type of healthy social media content can typically provide free resources to users and can inform users of the potential signs and symptoms of an eating disorder to look out for.
If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder or other mental illness, it’s critical to seek professional help to safely address your mental illness, heal, and lead a healthier quality of life.
Help Is Available
As you can see, the social media impact eating disorders can be significant– for better and for worse. Unfortunately, unhealthy and unrealistic beauty standards on social media can glamorize the appearance of a thin appearance to attract attention, which can subconsciously encourage social media users to work toward being skinny no matter the cost. This combined with pro-eating disorder content on social media can unfortunately influence or encourage eating disorders in some social media users.
Our compassionate team at Hammocks on the Edisto is here to help you overcome your addiction and lead a healthier, happier life. Gone are the days of suffering alone with your addiction. Our drug and alcohol rehab center provides patients with a comprehensive range of treatment options so they can receive tailored support to best achieve lasting sobriety. Contact us today to learn more about how we can best support your unique recovery needs.
