Effects of social media and eating disorders. Are you a social network user? Of course, the answer is yes. What if the question is: Are social networks being affected and conditioning, somehow, your daily? Do they determine, for example, the way you perceive your body, correct your eating habits, limit your emotional well-being? Do you think there is a link between eating disorders and social networks?
Many people who come to us for counselling cause us great emotional distress, situations in which social networks play a crucial role. We have over 2,200 million users who will read experiences, experiences, photos, comments on social networks, content that people of different ages, different personalities, and above all, different degrees of weakness and fragility.
Even more so when the people who publish content and opinions are the so-called “influencers,” that is, the people who have the most significant potential to be influenced, for example, teenagers.
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And in light of that fact … what effect can social media and eating disorders? Several issues need to be considered: These disorders mainly affect the adolescent population. Adolescents are the ones who use social networks very regularly. Eating disorders are closely linked to self-image, and the exaltation of a perfect image is one of the most damaging trends in these networks.
I participate in my new “Podium Podcast” on these issues.
Participate in Chapter 1 of the podcast “For the Love of Technology Use.”
In the human area, we have a great profession in the scientific spread of psychology. We are the first to use social networks. But we believe that communication must maintain a basic premise – especially in high-capacity and scope media: accurate and conflicting content, selection of the best scientific sources, proximity, sensitivity, empathy, teaching objectives, and above all By doing so, goals provide solutions that help people overcome their difficulties and improve their emotional well-being.
I have been invited to participate in the new “Podium Podcast” program: “For the Love of Technology.” And I’m happy to open this space, in particular, with a sensitive issue regarding good use of technology: the impact of social media and eating disorders.
I encourage you to listen to this, and if you allow me, I hope that after doing so, you will share the responsibility that we all have in promoting a communication style in social networks that Promotes healthy habits, physically and emotionally, away from negative tendencies. Such as excessive ideal or physical worship, thinness obsession, or other harmful thoughts, above all, to teenagers and people who Too weak for these messages. Enjoy the program.
Program 01: Eating Disorders and Social Networks.
social media and eating disorders from WhatsApp forums, blogs, and groups.
Now I can eat an apple and green tea so that they do not enter me, but later I will fast and not take more than 200 calories a day.
My parents tell me that if I don’t eat, they will recognize me and investigate me. They are pressuring me to eat, but I don’t want to.
For example, cut something into pieces and then throw it down the toilet. So they will think you have eaten something and stop them from coming inside you.
Sandra Journalist: These phrases you have heard are part of a collection of messages we have found in forums, blogs, and WhatsApp groups. Like the intruder by psychologist Marta de la Fuente, eating disorder (eating disorder).
Marta Psychologist: I was anxious to know how WhatsApp groups work for patients with eating disorders. I started searching the Internet, and in a few minutes, I found myself in an anorexia and pro bulimia forum, which gave me direct access to a WhatsApp group. In less than a minute, she was already in the WhatsApp group.
The fact that the two-hour conversation was quite impressive, as more than 200 people in this WhatsApp group were giving feedback, learning about dangerous behaviours, highly restricted doses, or information from their relatives, Was a way to deceive and hide.
The most shocking thing is that they threw me out in less than two hours and kicked me out of the WhatsApp group. I did not intervene, but they understood that I was not one of them.
As a psychologist, I am very nervous because I have noticed how easy it is for all teens and all young people to know about their upbringing and unusual eating habits. Is. We are talking about the only thing required for direct access to the Internet, three minutes, and a mobile device.
Juvenile + Social Network + Eating Disorder: Adding Risks.
They are pressuring me to eat, but I don’t want to.
Sandra Garcia: Hello! I’m Sandra Garcia Moreno, a 26-year-old journalist. I was born in ’93
I still remember my first phone. A Nokia was used only for making calls and sending messages. Then social networks appeared, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram … In a few years, we were able to see the incredible evolution of technology, although we used to, we didn’t know.
In this podcast, we talk to experts to tell us what no one told us, that …
To make good use of technology, we first need to know its power and its effects.
That is why, perhaps, the interviewing professionals’ information will help us use the possibilities of technology to our advantage. Although they are not new, maybe they have an impact on a section of the population.
In this first episode of the series “Love for the Use of Technology” that Orange brings, we talk about eating disorders and social networks. From Marta’s hand, we will know what essential changes she is currently seeing.
Marta: You’ve seen a significant increase in men in recent years. And when I joined the WhatsApp group I was telling you about before, I started looking at all the people’s profiles, and at least 20% of the people were men because of this picture. From what I saw on WhatsApp.
Before we talk about youth, I already have cases of 10, 11, or 12 years. Some statistics say they can start a little earlier. I couldn’t tell you for sure if there was an increase in self-harm, the diagnosis, but there is a fact: risk behaviours related to this type of disorder have increased by at least 20% due to use. Social networks
How do social networks affect minors with eating disorders?
If you want to lose 10 kg in a week, you must follow it. And think that if you’re going to get it, you have to understand that there is no place to eat in your life. If you notice that you feel dizzy, suck a lemon with salt. Food is like art. It is made to look, not to touch. And remember: nothing is as rich as being thin.
Sandra : These strict rules are part of videos that can be found on Instagram, published with the hashtag #anorexia, which currently has 5.8 million tags. Martha comments on the influence of networks on people with eating disorders.
Marta: Instagram took action in 2012, and the list of prohibited labels included the results of Pro Blamia, Anorexia, but these days I have tried to search from Instagram, and the truth is that it is easy to find me. Done. Publisher Anorexia and Pro Bulimia, although true that Instagram, the moment I saw that I was searching with this kind of terms, sent me a message: Are you okay, do you need anything? But I can give it away to cancel and continue my search.
I think the step that Instagram has taken is great, it’s very positive that it has this awareness, this awareness of this issue, but I don’t think that’s enough because to cancel Clicking to access all these vulnerable people continues.
I would encourage experts, health professionals, and psychologists to specialize in social media and eating disorders who have complete control over all these hashtags because they are more creative and more creative every day. They are changing their languages , and it isn’t easy to keep track.
Are social networks responsible for eating disorders?
Then I will continue fasting and not more than 200 calories a day.
Sandra: The question is, can we blame the networks?
Marta: It is essential to remember that eating behaviour mistakes are always present. They are not a new pathology that has started as a result of social networks.
This is a type of pathology that is unfortunately very complex because it is multifaceted. There are many, many variables involved in the onset of eating disorders. We are talking about weakness at the personality level and at the biological level. Some people have a kind of perfectionist profile, selfish, obsessive, with many insecurities on a personal level, low self-esteem …
And it’s true that these biological and personality variables, if you add add-ons like social networks, which provide a lot of harmful information, are certainly a bit of a “bomb” and Increasing the type of pathology.
Teachers’ opinions on social networks and eating disorders.
Sandra: Teachers are an important communication channel for young people. We refer to a school center. To know your opinion.
Teacher 1: Anorexia was not invented by the Internet. It was before. But yes, indeed, Instagram and networks and elements like that have made it more robust.
Teacher 2: I think the second year of bachelor is a complex and sometimes very demanding course, and it understands the boys, girls, who are coming …, but because of the self-demand, the pressure Because … you find cases in which we are investigating, and we have been together, and they have disturbed us, and we have passed it on to families.
But it’s not so much because of social networks. It’s not so much because of the digital world. As Alvaro said, this second year of the baccalaureate is necessary because of the pressure. This is the funnel that takes them to the university world.
Teacher: On the other hand, I believe that networks, Instagram, and all these things are a torrent, a pearl of images that bombs young people.
Teenagers’ opinions on social media and eating disorders.
Sandra: As Marta de la Fuente explained to us, teenagers, from the age of 12, are the most affected by this influence. That’s why we decided to go and talk to two 16-year-old, Belin and Maria, to find out how it affects teenagers.
Bella: I don’t know how you want to have an ideal body. They see that the body is Everything, and with it, you will get Everything, and in the end, it all looks pretty superficial to me.
Maria: Also, Instagram photos are very deceptive. It depends on the pose you use or if you have filtered if you have modified it … Everything that creates expectations in your head about what the body should look like, beauty, How it should be, Everything that is not natural and hurts.
What do parents think about social media and eating disorders?
Sandra: Now the question is, what do parents think? Do you know what the symptoms that can make you aware of these disorders are? Begun, an 18-year-old mother, tells us about it.
Begona: Dude! I believe that the images that appear on social networks significantly impact young people because they are not yet adults, and they think that their idea is fundamental because it is what they are all the time. Watching Sometimes it can harm them, when deciding to lose weight, in life circumstances. Maybe the Internet isn’t good because it’s not all-natural. That miraculous food, those perfect pictures … they are not real, real life is not that.
They believe that their body is essential. They should teach these star commercials, these five-day weight loss, these miracle products, and above all, people and children in schools where their body is essential. Still, they must be ready for life and read and socialize differently.
As a mom, I’m worried it’s out of control. Only by cancelling can they continue to search for information about such a profound and disturbing disease, especially when you are a teenager who does not understand. In the end, we are in the grip of innocence, meaning everyone does as they please … Yes, there is an icon that you give, you can cancel it whenever you want, but the information is still there.
How to identify eating disorders? Tips for parents.
Sandra: Like Beguna, other parents may not know what the signs are that could warn them of an eating disorder. When we are in front of one of them, Marta guides us to find out.
Marta: There are many warning signs for parents listening to us and who are very upset and saying: How can I know if my son or daughter has an eating disorder?
On many occasions, we find ourselves with dietary restrictions, coughing, vomiting, laxative use, post-meal compensatory behaviors, for example, starting to play sports or not walking, pushing up, whatever we eat. Burning, running. Bathroom after dinner …
Or suddenly, we see a fundamental change in the level of irritability, insecurity, anger, or rage in our son or our daughter.
Or they may begin to avoid situations in which they have to eat with us or in public.
But, most of all, it’s when they start commenting on me saying I’m fat, I’m fat … or comments about how many calories these foods have.
Also, many unusual behaviours are that they do not want to eat fried foods, remove all the oil, or start cutting food too much.
When you see this kind of unhealthy eating behaviour, there may be signs, and you may decide to “I’m going to contact a professional” to prevent it. Or go to pages that specialize in this type of problem so they can give you specific instructions. Because these types of disorders, which were identified at the beginning, are beneficial.
Recommendations for Social media and eating disorders
Sandra: If you are going through this challenging situation, we would like to give you some recommendations from the hand of this expert from “Love for the use of technology.”
Marta: If you are a teenager or a teenager who thinks they have an eating problem, I want to tell you, first of all, thank you for listening to us, thank you for hiding from this kind of trouble. ۔ And also, tell you that you are not alone, that you are not alone.
That you may feel ashamed, guilty, frustrated, or disappointed in yourself, but this is an issue you have not chosen. This is a problem that, on many occasions, is a biological component that is affecting you. That there is a solution. There are professionals whose primary goal is to make you feel better, whose main goal is to help you better manage your emotions, support your well-being and regain happiness.
Because maybe you don’t feel free right now, you feel completely in control of your obsession, your body, being thin, and that makes you think slower, sadder, and more absent every day. But there is a solution.
So, if you are the person who is having trouble when this podcast ends, I encourage you to talk to your father, your mother, your tutor, or your teacher and ask them for help. ۔ Because I’m sure they’ll help you.
An ultimate reflection on eating disorders and proper use of social networks.
Sandra: There are risks, but we don’t want to overlook the positive aspects of using new technologies, which are many and can even help make an impact in an enriched way.
Marta: We can use social networks through our Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram profiles. And if we start publishing the general aspects of our daily lives, but without falling into perfectionism.
Or, for example, when we take a photo, and we don’t try to publish what the perfect body is, but the average body, without repeating the picture 5, 10, 15, or 20 times so that the slight belly is not visible. Images are natural, unadulterated.
Even in publications that we promote a balanced diet, we eat several times a day. The importance of practising sports as a healthy habit is not about being thin. It is not about being fat. For example, please refrain from making derogatory comments about the body when we comment on other people’s posts.
And if we also start talking about these kinds of problems, disorders, let the population know that they exist and that you are against it and want to help, I think it can work.
Conclusion
I hope this detailed guide on social media and eating disorders will help you to not risk your life next time in Social Media Use.
