Social media and eating disorders: what parents should know

What the research shows

• The U.S. Surgeon General reported in 2023 that 46% of adolescents 13 to 17 said social media makes them feel worse about their body image; only 14% said better.
• A 2023 review of 50 studies from 17 countries, covering ages 10 to 24, concluded that social media use is a plausible risk factor for eating disorders.
• The American Psychological Association says comparing appearance on social media is linked to poorer body image, disordered eating and depressive symptoms, particularly among girls.

How social media can contribute

• Constant comparison with edited and filtered photos
• Feeds that keep serving “thin” or “fit” ideals after a teen engages with them
• Content that promotes restrictive eating, purging or extreme exercise
• Likes and comments that tie a teen’s worth to how they look

Who is most at risk

The research review found the highest risk among young women and girls who already had body image concerns. The APA describes early adolescence, roughly ages 10 to 14, as a period when monitoring matters most. Boys are affected too, often through muscle-building and “fitness” content.

Warning signs

• Skipping meals, rigid food rules or cutting out whole food groups
• Rapid weight change, or wearing baggy clothes to hide their body
• Frequent body checking, weighing or negative talk about their body
• Excessive exercise, or distress when they can’t exercise
• Disappearing after meals or secrecy around food
• Following accounts focused on dieting, “what I eat in a day” or extreme fitness

What parents can do

1. Talk about what they see online without commenting on their weight or body.
2. Help them unfollow or mute accounts that make them feel worse, and use the app’s sensitive-content settings.
3. Report content that promotes disordered eating.
4. If you notice warning signs, contact their pediatrician or a mental-health professional. Eating disorders are serious and treatable, and early help matters.
5. For support, the National Alliance for Eating Disorders offers a free helpline. If your child is in immediate danger, call 911, or call or text 988.

Legal claims

Families whose child developed anorexia, bulimia, binge eating or another eating disorder after heavy social media use before 18 are bringing claims against the platforms, alleging their design pushed vulnerable teens toward harmful content. The companies deny it. The case review is free and confidential.