The Complex Relationship Between Social Media and Eating Disorders

The connection between social media and eating disorder behaviors is not theoretical—it’s real.

Extensive research across 17 countries found a correlation between frequent social media use and high rates of body dissatisfaction, appearance fixation or comparison, and eating disorder behaviors, especially among both adolescents and young adults. 

The same research found that anywhere from 15–47 percent of social media consumers endorse (or even reinforce) eating disorder behaviors as normal, calling this a “public health concern,” and rightfully so. 

But how can we protect ourselves from social media’s impact on body image in an era when sites like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok are part of daily life? While still enjoying the things we love about social media?

To answer this question, let’s first explore the intersection between social media content and eating disorder behaviors. Then, we’ll get into some practical ways to create a healthier, more balanced relationship with these influential tools at our fingertips. 

How Social Media Content Can Fuel Eating Disorder Behaviors

Here’s the thing: we know social media isn’t great for us—nearly 30 percent of users think their viewing habits are hurting their mental health. I even wrote an article about whether or not we should delete it altogether! 

Many users also confirm that exposure to restrictive diets, weight loss content, or appearance-focused messages (I.E. “thinspiration” or “fitspiration”) can influence their body image. The rise of #skinnytok is just another reminder of how viral (and harmful) these trends can be.

So, with all this in mind, here’s what to be aware of while scrolling on social media.

Unrealistic Idealization

Most social media platforms are visual in nature, particularly YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. As of 2025, the average consumer spends 49 minutes on YouTube, 47 minutes on TikTok, and 32 minutes on Instagram each day. That’s a significant chunk of time spent consuming reels and photos reinforcing curated—and often unrealistic—beauty ideals. 

Those who frequently consume images that favor a certain body shape, weight, or size are prone to equating self-worth and success with how they look, reports Frontiers in Psychology. This can turn into body dysmorphia, a constant obsession with perceived external flaws and a common predictor of eating disorder behaviors, the research continues.

Social Comparison

Chances are, you’ve heard the refrain: “What you see on social media isn’t real.” While many of us know this, the pull toward social comparison is hard to overcome. Social comparison refers to the tendency of humans to evaluate their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, abilities, and physical characteristics in relation to others. 

Comparison is natural to some degree, but too much social media consumption can escalate it to an unhealthy extreme. The Frontiers in Psychology research mentioned above points out the dangers that often come with comparison. 

Those who form opinions about their bodies through the lens of social media content are likely to strive for perfection in order to measure up to curated images, seek out constant reassurance about their appearance, and make harsh criticisms or judgments about themselves based on how someone else might look online.

Harmful Subcultures

While many social media platforms do make an effort to remove outwardly harmful posts, some online subcultures escape moderation, allowing them to proliferate weight loss content under the guise of healthy motivation.

One example of this is “SkinnyTok,” a viral hashtag on TikTok that reinforces toxic diet culture narratives conflating wellness with thinness. 

In a recent survey of 273 women, almost 65 percent confirm they’ve been exposed to this type of content through TikTok’s “For You” page. Meanwhile, only 15 percent have not seen any weight loss-centric posts on social media.

It’s also important to be aware that social media algorithms further amplify these subcultures, disseminate their content, and make it easily accessible, whether or not you’re searching for it. Virality is virality, whether good or bad.

For instance, TikTok’s algorithm can take a search for “body positive” or “body neutral” content in the opposite direction, churning out videos of “body checking,” the PLOS One Journal reports.

Body checking is self-surveillance of your appearance, which leads to fixation on the areas you want to change—in other words, what you end up seeing is not body-neutral content. 

Many of these social media subcultures glamorize and normalize restrictive diets, compulsive exercise, or other weight-control behaviors, the journal continues. From there, it’s often a direct route to body dissatisfaction and full-blown eating disorder symptoms.

Cultivating a Healthier Relationship with Social Media Habits

While social media can pose risks to both your mental and physical well-being, you don’t have to delete these platforms altogether (unless you want to, of course). With mindful, intentional shifts, you can create a healthier relationship with social media—one that leaves you feeling balanced, not inadequate or insecure. 

Here are a few tips to start you off.

Re-Evaluate Your Feed

Consider the accounts you follow on social media. Do they celebrate the diversity, inclusion, worth, and acceptance of all bodies? Or do they promote one narrow definition of beauty? Mute or unfollow any accounts and influencers that cause you to scrutinize or compare yourself with others. 

Look for content that affirms body neutrality and combats weight-related stigma, and seek out online communities that encourage you to prioritize your mental health, self-care, and healing process over your external appearance. We take pride in bringing diverse voices, insights, and imagery to our Instagram feed!

Practice Media Literacy

Make a point to critically examine the content you consume, rather than taking it at face value. Research in the Behavioral Sciences Journal shows that false or manipulated content is up to 70 percent more likely to spread across social media than authentic content. 

Check out Media Literacy Now for helpful resources.

Set Thoughtful Boundaries

A recent study from the American Psychological Association found that heavy social media users who restricted their screen time by 50 percent for a month reported a healthier body image than before setting those limits!

Here are some simple boundaries to help moderate your consumption:

• Turn off notifications

• Set an alarm for scrolling time

• Remove the apps from your homescreen

• Set times of day when you don’t go on social media

• Put your phone in another room while you spend time with others

• Unfollow anyone promoting diet culture, even in subtle ways

Most importantly, be present in your life offline! Enjoy the outdoors, meet a friend for coffee, or call someone you love.   

Share Content Responsibly

Consider the message behind all content you post and share on social media. Think about how a visual or caption might affect someone else’s mental health and practice sensitivity, just like you would expect others to be sensitive to you online.

Avoid promoting brands, influencers, and accounts that promote unrealistic beauty ideals or harmful diet culture rhetoric—even in small ways. 

Bottom line: post the same content you want to see—imagery that nurtures radical self-love, connection, and acceptance. 

Social Media Use Doesn’t Have to Compromise Eating Disorder Recovery

The relationship between social media and eating disorders is full of nuance. While exposure to certain narratives on social media can contribute to eating disorder behaviors, these platforms can also be valuable spaces to connect with others and share inspiration on the healing journey.

These simple but meaningful shifts can help you filter out the toxic noise on social media to create more balanced scrolling habits that won’t compromise your well-being.