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

Giuseppe Logrieco, Maria Rosaria Marchili, Marco Roversi and Alberto Villani
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Giuseppe Logrieco: Residency School of Pediatrics, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00165 Rome, Italy
Maria Rosaria Marchili: Department of Emergency, Acceptance and General Pediatrics, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy
Marco Roversi: Residency School of Pediatrics, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00165 Rome, Italy
Alberto Villani: Department of Emergency, Acceptance and General Pediatrics, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00165 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 3, 1-4

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: adolescence; social media; anorexia; non suicidal self-injury (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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