young girls today are joining social media platforms at a rapid rate and as such, are directly exposed to #Thinspo or anorexia related accounts. Radar also mentions that “86 percent of eating disorders present themselves before the age of 20.” This represents a major demographic for most social media platforms. Research done by NEDA, the National Eating Disorders Association, has proven that social factors easily contribute to the development of eating disorders. Causes can include “cultural pressures that glorify ‘thinness’ or muscularity and place value on obtaining the ‘perfect body.’” After speaking with Lauren, a volunteer from NEDA, she clarified that whether someone is struggling with a disorder or not, there is evidence that social media affects body image. Lauren also mentioned that while there is no specific age, studies do show that disorders or body issues often increase during adolescence and puberty. As an organization, NEDA steers all young people away from #Thinspo themed posts along with #Fitspo photos.
“#Fitspo can also send mixed messages, or even the same message, as #Thinspo.” Often pictures used for fitness posts focusing on “healthy bodies” are the same ones labeled #Thinspo. #Fitspo posts still concentrate on strict eating habits and examining your body in extreme detail, easily making someone obsessive over their physical appearance. In an effort to reverse these negative effects, Tumblr banned the hashtag “Thinspo” entirely after many users petitioned in 2012. Now when a Tumblr user tries to find #Thinspo, a message pops up giving information on the eating disorder helpline at the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). But type #Thinspo into Twitter and you will still find thousands of posts from accounts dedicated to anorexia and other eating disorders. So while #Fitspo has created a so-called positive community for people interested in eating healthy, working out, and getting fit the right way, #Thinspo is simply the opposite. And, only time will tell if this harmful hashtag will continue to exist on social media platforms. If you or anyone you know is suffering from an eating disorder, contact the FIT Counseling Center at 212-217-4260 or call the NEDA helpline at 1-800-931-2237.