AMANDA RISERVATO

FACEBOOK: A THINSPIRATION INTERFACE OR A DEATH NETWORK?

Facebook is used as an outlet for society to let loose, whether it is to learn about the latest
gossip, to catch up with old friends, or to make new ones. What makes Facebook unique is it
gives its users the power to partake in ones daily activities and showcase the individuals
mindset. Has this friendly portal become too much for its younger users? Has Facebook become
a new outlet for body image disorders and, even more importantly, a young womans eating
disorder platform? Many young women become afflicted by harmful eating disorders due to a
variety of contributing environmental factors1; one of the most prevalent and alarming new
elements includes the social media platform Facebook.

4,5,6,7,9,10,11,12

The direct correlation

between the eating disorders young women develop and their daily usage of Facebook will be
examined by looking further into the research studies that were performed relating the use of fat
talk and Facebook.5, 10 As well as adolescent females comparing pictures found on Facebook, and
internalizing the thin ideal.12
The most prevalent demographics of both users of Facebook, and people afflicted by
eating disorders are young females ages 13 to 18.2 The National Association of Anorexia
Nervosa and Associated Disorders state that eating disorders impact over 30 million people in the
United States.1 Between 85 percent and as much as 95 percent of people who suffer from an
eating disorders are women.1 Of that, a large percentage of those women fall into the age bracket
of 16-20.1 In comparison with that eating disorder statistic, more women tend to be Facebook
users over men.3 A sizeable portion around 71 percent of those Facebook using adults tend to be
in the 18 to 29-year old bracket. 3 This statement shows the irony that Facebook, and its primarily
large female population link each other to negative side effects of Facebook use. 4 Women are
seen daily liking each others pictures, and commenting negatively on their own, using jargon

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FACEBOOK: A THINSPIRATION INTERFACE OR A DEATH NETWORK?

such as how they dislike certain body parts. 5 This negative whiplash is one factor demonstrating
how social media brings about the negative body idea, and unsatisfactory body image.6

10 million new photographs are uploaded to Facebook every hour. 7 This amount of
content illustrates the likelihood of potential body image concerns amongst young women. 7 The
portrayal of thinness is plastered everywhere in modern society, from the TV screen, to the
magazines that are flipped through daily. Thin is in, and being overweight is frowned upon.

7,12

Eating disorders capture their prisoners despite race, age, ethnic background, position in society,
and job title.1 The young victims are in a unanimous decision in what they fully want out of this
psychological agreement.13 They want desperately to lose weight, and are intensely unhappy
with their body size and shape.13 Body dissatisfaction has quickly become the norm among
young women both in high school and in university settings when exposed to different
photographs, and overexposure to time spent on Facebook.7,12
Women are in constant reminder that beauty is the driving factor of society.6 With the
Facebook app available by the touch of a finger tip, this means the constant reminders and
notifications are just a quick click away. Not only is Facebook a consistent reminder, it is also a
social podium for comparisons between friends, which often reinforces the thin ideal. 4 The
Merriam Websters definition of beauty is the qualities in a person or a thing that gives pleasure
to the senses or mind.8 Societys idea of beauty is not necessarily a definition, but more
attributes one may possess.5,6 Society reflects this quite often on Facebook, and constantly
reiterates by giving its users the ability to objectify and like which they see fit to match their
definition of beauty.5 Now, women have a constant and active space to engage in social
comparison with peers who may simultaneously portray and reinforce the thin [or beauty]

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FACEBOOK: A THINSPIRATION INTERFACE OR A DEATH NETWORK?

ideal.4
Facebook has opened the doors to fat talking5, Walker MM, Thornton L, Choudhury
MD, et al describes as, negative talk about body size and shape while emphasizing a societal
ideal toward thinness.5 Fat talk is the backhanded compliments one places on themselves;
stating what is wrong with the images placed forth for peers and friends to glance at. 5 Fat talk
is a social factor taking Facebook by storm. Walker MM, Thornton L, Choudhury MD, et al
explored the relationship of fat talk on Facebook and its relationship to disordered eating. 5 In a
study proving fat talk with the addition of other factors online physical appearance comparison,
and online fat talk, BMI, depression, anxiety, perfectionism, negative urgency, were positively
and significantly correlated with greater endorsement of disordered eating. 5 This correlation
was also proven in a different study, which would show the cultural aspect of Facebook, and its
effects on body satisfaction.10 Researchers found fat talk effects the women from Korea that
participated in this study, moreover then the women from the United States that participated.10
Individuals suffering with eating disorders often have an overlapping Venn-diagram
effect of psychological characteristics that often can be heightened with the use of Facebook. 7
Low self-esteem, anxiety, lack of confidence, and feelings of inadequacy are some characteristics
a user might describe when they feel immeasurable to their peers. 7 In a study done by Evelyn P,
Meierm MA, Gray J, researchers found after asking adolescent females to compare themselves to
pictures found on Facebook Facebook appearance exposure was positively correlated with
internalization of the thin ideal, self-objectification, and drive for thinness, and negatively
correlated with weight satisfaction.12 Facebook gives its users a certain sense of misery when a
certain expectation is not being fully met.4,5,6,7,9,10,11,12 According to results from Chen WW, Lee

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FACEBOOK: A THINSPIRATION INTERFACE OR A DEATH NETWORK?

KH, found that more frequent Facebook interaction is associated with greater psychological
distress11
In one study done, greater Facebook use intensity can have beneficial or adverse effects
on psychological well-being depending on the users motives.

13

Friendship, has increased the

positive aspects of psychological well being. 13 This research shows that even though Facebook
poses as a threat to adolescent females4,5,6,7,9,10,11,12 the availability of friendship Facebook offers
its current users, help with these users psychological well being.13
Although Facebook potentially looks to be a platform for old and new friends to discuss
similar interests, and grab hold of the latest entertainment news. it has also been found to mark a
darker territory. This social media platform has been a contributing factor and an ongoing
attribute to the vast majority of adolescent females afflicted by injurious eating disorders, and
negative body image.

AMANDA RISERVATO
FACEBOOK: A THINSPIRATION INTERFACE OR A DEATH NETWORK?

AMANDA RISERVATO
FACEBOOK: A THINSPIRATION INTERFACE OR A DEATH NETWORK?

References

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FACEBOOK: A THINSPIRATION INTERFACE OR A DEATH NETWORK?

1. The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders: Eating

Disorders Statistics 1976; http://www.anad.org/get-information/about-eatingdisorders/eating-disorders-statistics/ Accessed 14 October 2015
2. The National Institute of Mental Health: Eating Disorders Among Children 2010
Oct;49(10):980-989 http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/prevalence/eatingdisorders-among-children.shtml Accessed 7 December 2015
3. Pew Research Center: Social Networking Fact Sheet
http://www.pewinternet.org/fact-sheets/social-networking-fact-sheet/. Accessed 14
October 2015
4. Mabe AG, Forney KJ, Keel PK. Do you like my photo? Facebook use maintains
eating disorder risk. Int J Eat Disord. 2014;47(5) 516-523. Doi 10.1002/eat.22254
5. Walker MM, Thornton L, Choudhury MD, et al. Facebook use and disordered eating
in college aged women. J Ado Health 2015;57(2):157-163. doi
10.1016/jadohealth.2015.04.026
6. Stronge S, Greaves LM, Milojev P, et al. Facebook is linked to body dissatisfaction:
comparing users and non-users. J Sex Roles 2015;73(5-6)200-13. doi
10.1007/s11199-0150517-6
7. Fardouly JJ, Diedrichs PC, Vartanian LR, et al. Social comparisons on social media:
the impact of facebook on young womens body image concerns and mood. J Body
Im 2015;13 38-45. doi 10.1016/j.bodyim.2014.12.002
8. Merriam-Webster Dictionary online. http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/beauty. Accessed 14 October 2015
9. Juarascio AS, Shoaib A, Timko CA. Pro-editing disorder communities on social
networking sites: A content analysis. J Eating Disord. 2010;18 292-407. doi
10.1080/10640266.2010.511918
10. Hye EL, Emiko T, Modica A et al. Effects of witnessing fat talk on body satisfaction
and pyscholohical well-being: A cross-cultural comparison of Korea and the United
States. J. Social Behavior Personality 2013;8 1279-1295. doi
10.2224/spb.2013.41.8.1279
11. Chen WW, Lee KH. Sharing liking, commenting, and distressed? The pathway
between facebook interaction and psychological distress. Cyberpsychology,
Behavior and Social Networking 2013;16(10)728-734. doi 10.1089/cyber.2012.0272
12. Evelyn P, Meierm MA, Gray J. Facebook photo activity associated with body image
disturbance in adolescent girls. Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking
2014;4 199-206. doi 10.1089/cyber.2013.0305

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13. The National Institute of Mental Health: Eating Disorders 2010 Oct;
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/eating-disorders/index.shtml. Accessed 14
October 2015