The Paradox of Tik Tok Anti-Pro-Anorexia Videos: How Social Media Can Promote Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and Anorexia

The literature shows that social pressure promotes non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) Eating disorders, along with self-injury, are also favored by underregulated social media. Tik Tok is one of the most used social media platforms among adolescents. It has been shown that the time young children spend on this platform doubled during the lockdown. The theme of anorexia is very common on this platform. While most pro-ana (pro-anorexia) videos, where users exchanged advice on how to pathologically lose weight, have been censored by the application, other anti-pro-ana (anti-pro-anorexia) videos, officially aimed at raising awareness of the consequences of anorexia, have become increasingly popular. However, our case shows how even these safer videos paradoxically lead the users to emulate these guilty behaviors.

Automated summary

Social pressure and the use of specific social media platforms, particularly Tik Tok, have significant impacts on adolescents, especially in relation to eating disorders and non-suicidal self-injury. It is important to be aware of how seemingly "safer" videos on these platforms can still have negative effects on users.