Question

What impact has modern technology, such as the Internet, media, social networking, advertising, had on eating disorders in children and adolescents? How can such be used in a positive way rather than causing harm?

Answer 1

The social media is growing at a very fast pace nowadys. Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat are arguably the most image-driven social media platforms currently available. Children who are exposed to a high volume of these are at risk for the development of distorted body image and disordered eating. The negative effects of social media are listed as follows:

• The media puts a large amount of pressure on females to meet a certain social and cultural standard of beauty, which can inevitably lead to poor body image and eating disorders.
• The more an individual is exposed to this unrealistic standard, the more they find it is reflective of how they should look. Looking youthful and thin has become an essential part of what it means to be beautiful by today’s standards. These standards are often unachievable. This can lead to anxiety, depression, obsession with losing weight and a greater likelihood of developing an eating disorder
• The pro-eating disorder websites range greatly, but many support disordered eating and can contribute to an individual’s distorted thoughts surrounding food and their bodies.

Use of social media in a positive way:

• Encouraging your children to use social media in positive ways and having a general awareness of their online activity can help minimize the negative effect that social media has on them.
• Keep the conversation open and let them know that they can come to you if they are triggered by something they see online.
• Spend money on things that are good for you and that make you feel good, like healthy food, fitness equipment, massages and flattering clothes instead of spending money on the diet industry (including things like diet pills, diet shakes and diet foods).
• Practice positive self talk. Give yourself compliments. Stop the negative self talk.
• Surround yourself with people that have healthy relationships with their bodies and healthy relationships with food.