Social media is again being blamed for a psychic problem. More strongly and more definitively this time. So we did this fact check.
Before going into the subject per se, let's be clear that 'eating disorders' we discuss in this context are not related to digestion but the way we eat: eating too much in one sitting, controlling one's eating to stay thin, eating in spurts, eating too much and purging, and so on. These are psychological in nature.
Earlier research had almost proved that people are influenced by what they see on traditional visual media - films and television, advertisements and fashion magazines. A California State University project paper on eating disorders almost sums it up.
But now more and more studies prove that social media is leading to such problems on a large-scale. In addition to showing up stereotype images of thin people, social media amplifies the impact as people now discuss the matter online and compare with friends and others who are much closer to a distant model or film heroine.
A Pittsburgh university study on social media's role in eating disorders finds that irrespective of gender, people

Research finds, social media is raising eating disorders and image concerns
Earlier research had almost proved that people are influenced by what they see on traditional visual media - films and television, advertisements and fashion magazines. A California State University project paper on eating disorders almost sums it up.
But now more and more studies prove that social media is leading to such problems on a large-scale. In addition to showing up stereotype images of thin people, social media amplifies the impact as people now discuss the matter online and compare with friends and others who are much closer to a distant model or film heroine.
A Pittsburgh university study on social media's role in eating disorders finds that irrespective of gender, people
are affected by the link between social media and eating and body image concerns.
The study sampled 1765 US adults of 19-32 years. It found that people who spent the most time on social media throughout the day were 2.2 times more prone to eating disorders and body image concerns (i.e. finding dissatisfaction with their bodies and having a negative image about their own bodies) than others. Participants who checked social media frequently throughout the week reported 2.6 times more propensity for such disorders than others.
UK parents worried about teens starving themselves due to social media influence
This article on eating disorders is a commentary on how such disorders are growing in the UK, leading to a jump in the number of teenagers being admitted to hospitals with eating disorders in recent years. 'Thinspiration' websites (that encourage people to become thin) are blamed for hooking girls and young women to become thin and maintain a very thin body.Weaning youth away from anoxria blogging
This article in the Telegraph, UK, delves into the life of an anorexia blogger, one who writes posts on being thin without taking it as a disorder. Such 'pro-ana' blogs insist that anoxeria is not a disorder but a lifestyle choice.
This US report talks about a victim of social media influence towards anoxeria who was rehabilitated and how empowered she feels after that.
NEDA, a prominent non-profit organization of the US in the area of tackling eating disorders says,
The effect of media on women’s body dissatisfaction, thin ideal internalization, and disordered eating appears to be stronger among young adults than children and adolescents. This may suggest that long-term exposure during childhood and adolescence lays the foundation for the negative effects of media during early adulthood.
Another disorder, called orthorexia, seems to be developing - the fad for healthy eating. It becomes a disorder because people do not stop at just eating good food, they feel worried about obesity and their bodies not being perfect, shun all non-healthy food, and exercise too much.
Also relevant:
Facebook reduces well-being? Social media leads to less charity?
Social media causes depression among celebrities?