- Exposure to TikTok’s pro-anorexia content significantly reduces body image satisfaction and increases internalization of societal beauty standards in women, even after just 8 minutes.
- Even neutral TikTok content can negatively impact body satisfaction, suggesting that the platform encourages social comparison regardless of the type of content viewed.
- Higher daily TikTok usage (over 2 hours) is associated with elevated signs of disordered eating behaviors, raising concerns about the long-term psychological effects of the platform.
A new study highlights the psychological risks associated with viewing TikTok content, particularly videos that promote unhealthy body ideals and disordered eating. The research, published in PLOS One, found that women exposed to pro-anorexia content on TikTok experienced a significant decline in body image satisfaction and an increased tendency to internalize societal beauty standards. Even those watching neutral content reported lower body satisfaction, suggesting that simply engaging with TikTok may affect self-perception.
TikTok’s algorithm, which tailors content based on user interaction, may contribute to the spread of harmful material, including pro-anorexia communities that encourage extreme dieting and disordered behaviors. Despite efforts to regulate such content, TikTok’s system can still expose users to harmful videos.
In the study, 273 women aged 18 to 28 were randomly assigned to two groups. One group watched pro-anorexia TikTok content for about 8 minutes, while the control group viewed neutral videos. The researchers assessed body image satisfaction and the internalization of societal beauty standards both before and after the videos using specific psychological scales. The results showed that those exposed to disordered eating content experienced a significant decrease in body image satisfaction and an increase in the internalization of rigid beauty ideals.
Surprisingly, the control group also reported lower body image satisfaction after watching neutral content, suggesting that the act of viewing TikTok videos itself may encourage social comparison. Participants who spent more than two hours per day on TikTok also exhibited higher scores on eating disorder screening tools, though further research is needed to confirm if extended time on the platform directly contributes to disordered eating behaviors.
The study raises concerns about the influence of TikTok’s algorithm on body image and eating disorders, emphasizing the need for greater regulation of social media platforms. It also highlights the potential long-term psychological effects of social media use, suggesting that limiting time online may not be enough to mitigate harm.
