A recent study by researchers at Charles Sturt University in Australia examines how TikTok use contributes to body image issues among women.

According to NBC News, the study involved 273 women between the ages of 18 and 28. However, the results showed that every user should pay attention to the problems identified, not just young women.

The impact of social media on mental health has become a hotly debated topic, with companies like TikTok facing accusations of promoting addictive and harmful content for children.

Utah has filed a lawsuit against the social media platform, accusing it of using algorithms that manipulate children into excessive use without adequate safety precautions, as Deseret News previously reported.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox has previously compared TikTok to tobacco companies, claiming the platform is aware of the harm its services cause but continues to market them to vulnerable audiences.

The influence of TikTok on body image

The study from Australia found that less than ten minutes of exposure to harmful health-related content on TikTok can have a negative impact on body image.

According to The Guardian, participants were divided into two groups: one group watched content promoting eating disorders (so-called “pro-anorexia” or “pro-ana” content), while the other group watched videos about nature, cooking and comedy.

Both groups reported lower satisfaction with body image, but those exposed to pro-ana content experienced increased anxiety.

“You don’t have to consume a lot of content for it to have a negative impact,” Rachel Hogg, co-author of the study, told The Guardian. “We know that most people spend a lot more time on TikTok than the participants in our study.”

The study focused on the immediate effects of social media on mental health, leaving the long-term effects uncertain. Hogg expressed interest in studying these effects further in an interview with ABC News.

“We know from our research that the majority of users use TikTok for one to two hours a day, and 64% of them said they have seen such eating disorder content on their For You page,” she told ABC News.

Hogg also noted that some content may not seem problematic at first glance, but could contribute to internalizing body image issues, such as extreme exercise and diet trends.

Addressing issues related to body image on TikTok

According to NBC News, TikTok has taken steps to combat harmful content on its platform by updating its community guidelines and changing its algorithm.

The company’s policies state that promoting eating disorders and dangerous weight loss behaviors is not allowed.

The platform also prevents users from searching for harmful topics. For example, if you search for “anorexia,” you’ll get an image of a belly hugging a heart, along with a number for the National Alliance for Eating Disorders and the message, “You are not alone.”

However, Hogg pointed out in her ABC News interview that users can easily circumvent TikTok’s censorship by slightly altering search terms. In addition, content that is not immediately recognizable as harmful remains a problem.

Doreen Marshall, CEO of the National Eating Disorder Association, acknowledged, according to NBC News, that the study could not conclusively prove that TikTok was leading to an increase in eating disorders.

However, she stressed that the study underscores the need for further research into the link between social media and eating disorders.

“There is some out there, but platforms have created standards around that,” Marshall told NBC News. “Eating disorders are pretty complex, so we really need to understand more about the intersection and influence of social media as part of a person’s environment.”