TikTok can cause negative internalisation of beauty ideals, says study

The researchers note that even women exposed to neutral content reported a decrease in body satisfaction. Photo: AFP

On TikTok, users can find a variety of content, from makeup tips and fashion trends to nature hikes and cooking videos.

However, wellness remains one of the platform's major draws. An Australian study is warning of the potential impact of such content on mental health, particularly with regard to body image and eating disorders.

A study, conducted by researchers at Charles Sturt University and published in the journal PLOS ONE, reveals that TikTok use could promote body image dissatisfaction in young women and encourage eating disorders.

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Researchers interviewed 273 women aged 18 to 28 about their use of TikTok, measuring symptoms of eating disorders, body satisfaction, internalisation of societal beauty standards, and risk of orthorexia nervosa.

Half of the participants watched seven to eight minutes of TikTok videos on eating disorders, including weight loss tips, recipes or sports training. The other half watched neutral content.

The researchers found that less than 10 minutes' exposure to TikTok content, whether implicit or explicit about anorexia, is enough to have immediate an negative effect on body image and internalisation of beauty ideals.

The researchers note that even women exposed to neutral content reported a decrease in body satisfaction.

In response to these findings, the researchers are calling for stricter regulations on the platform.

They advocate a cultural and organisational change within TikTok to control and limit access to pro-anorexia content as well as content that portrays disordered eating more subtly.

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"The findings of this study suggest cultural and organisation change is needed. There is a need for more stringent controls and regulations from TikTok in relation to pro-ana content as well as more subtle forms of disordered eating- and body-related content," the study authors write.

Prohibiting or restricting access to pro-ana content on TikTok may reduce the development of disordered eating and the longevity and severity of established eating disorder symptomatology among young women in the TikTok community." – AFP Relaxnews