Starving for 'Likes' – social media's role in teen eating disorders

IN AN age where teenagers are growing up online, social media has become more than just a place to connect - it’s a constant mirror, often reflecting toxic messages about body image, beauty and self-worth.

- SARENE KLOREN

Platforms like Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat may seem harmless, but experts warn they are increasingly fuelling eating disorders among vulnerable young people by glorifying thinness and pushing unscientific, and sometimes dangerous, diet advice.

For many teenagers, especially young girls, the endless scroll of “body goals” and “what I eat in a day” posts can become a gateway to disordered eating.

According to the UK’s Royal College of Psychiatrists, eating disorders are on the rise, with social media playing a significant role in shaping harmful body ideals.

Dr Agnes Ayton, the chair of the Faculty of Eating Disorders Psychiatry, says, "Social media can act as a catalyst, especially in young people who may already have low self-esteem or be going through emotionally vulnerable periods.