SCREEN TEENS

“Rule 1 of the Thin Commandments: If you aren't thin, you aren't attractive.” On pro-ana websites, a life-threatening eating disorder is seen as a lifestyle.

"Drink up to a shot of apple cider vinegar before eating. Ice or gum are good food substitutes. Wear a rubber band around your wrist and snap it when you want to eat. Food = pain.” These are some of the tips that young girls share to motivate each other to achieve an unhealthy body weight. These types of communities can further degrade these women's distorted eating habits and are encouraging our society to promote these serious illnesses.

Over the past few decades, adolescents spend much more time on the internet are influenced by its content.

CONS OF THE INTERNET

Since the 1930's, the amount of women age 15-19 with anorexia has increased, and it is unquestionably caused by the arrival of the internet.

Social media

On social media, users share a 'perfect version' of their day-to-day life. Many will compare themselves and second-guess their appearance. With the majority of Canadians using social media on a daily basis, social media largely impact one's self worth. In fact, a survey by Florida State University "found that a group of women who were asked to browse Facebook for 20 minutes experienced greater body dissatisfaction than those who spent 20 minutes online, researching rain forest cats". 

Pro-ana & Pro-mia

Pro-ana and Pro-mia (stands for pro-anorexia and pro-bulimia) websites are a community that view eating disorders as a lifestyle rather that a very serious disorder. They teach each others tips to obtain an extremely low body weight and encourages the young girls to continue down the road of self-destruction. In fact, 96% of teens diagnosed with an eating disorder who visited these sites learned new dieting and purging techniques. 

PROS OF THE INTERNET

On the brighter side, many social media websites block images and post that promote eating disorders. Per example, Pinterest bans content that encourages eating disorders.

Also, many people who struggle or struggled with an eating disorder use social media to document their recovery. Likewise, some users create accounts on social media to encourage people to love their bodies.

Go follow them on Instagram!

In closing

In the final analysis, the internet has plenty of negative content such as pro-ana websites but it's also an incredible resource to encourage people to recover from their illnesses. It is important to be able to distinguish the 'good' content from the 'bad' content found on the internet. We should teach young girls and boys to love themselves no matter what they look like. Sometime in the future, perhaps no one will be concerned about their appearance and we will all love ourselves for who we are and not what we look like.

Written by Naomi Duggan