An Overview of Eating Disorders and Social Media

Social media use has been identified to cause several mental health issues.

From triggering anxiety to exacerbating depressive symptoms, the negative impact of social media on mental health is well-documented.

One area that has received increasing attention and concern in recent years is the connection between social media use and eating disorders.

The impact of unrealistic beauty standards and filtered images is becoming more pronounced.

Many people — particularly teenagers and young adults — feel the need to lose weight or catch up with the unrealistic and often unattainable body standards promoted on social media platforms.

Pressure to conform to society’s narrow definition of beauty can lead to extreme eating behaviors and patterns.

Relentless exposure to idealized body images on platforms like Instagram and TikTok has been shown to directly correlate with increased body dissatisfaction among users, fostering unhealthy comparisons and distorted self-perceptions.

As a result, individuals, especially teens and young adults, may develop harmful eating habits and disorders.

A noticeable rise in cases of anorexia, bulimia, and other related eating disorders, which not only deteriorate physical health but also profoundly impact mental well-being, has been linked to social media.

Recognizing the severity of this issue, mental health professionals, lawmakers and legal advocates are urging for more responsible content management on these platforms and accountability from social media companies to mitigate the risk of such disorders.

If you or a loved one have suffered from eating disorders, social media addiction, or other related mental health issues, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit.

Contact our law firm for a free consultation.

You can also use the chatbot on this page to find out if you qualify to file a Social Media Eating Disorders Lawsuit instantly.

How Is Social Media Use Linked To Developing Eating Disorders?

The correlation between excessive social media use and developing eating disorders is an interesting topic among mental health researchers and professionals.

A growing body of evidence suggests a clear link between the two.

In a 2016 study about this issue, researchers gathered 1,765 adults ranging from 19 to 32 years old.

The study aimed to understand if the frequency (how many times a social media platform was visited) and volume (how much time was spent) of daily social media use were associated with a higher risk of developing eating disorders.

The results showed that individuals with higher frequency and volume of social media use had a higher risk of developing eating disorders.

Interestingly, the result is highest (41.6%) among 27 and 32-year-old participants.

Next to this group are the 19 to 21-year-old participants, with 31.6%.

In another study, researchers tried to shed light on the frequency of eating disorders among young adult females.

The study shows a connection between media exposure and body image issues among female young adults.

Experts pinpoint unrealistic beauty standards, such as the “ideal” body shape and size, as the primary culprits.

Social media platforms popularized the “thin-centric” beauty ideal, and this standard has been linked to several mental health issues, including eating disorders.

Understanding Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses that involve extreme behaviors towards food and body image.

While they may manifest differently in individuals, some common characteristics include:

• Obsession with food and weight
• Extreme fear of gaining weight
• Unhealthy eating habits (restricting food intake, binge eating, purging)
• Distorted body image

Some people may have a genetic predisposition to develop an eating disorder, while others may be influenced by external factors such as social media.

Here are some of the risk factors that can contribute to the development of an eating disorder:

• Low self-esteem
• Negative body image
• Pressure to conform to societal beauty standards
• Traumatic life events

It’s essential to understand that eating disorders are not a choice but rather a serious mental health condition that requires treatment and support.

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, it’s crucial to seek help from a mental health professional.

Eating Disorders Linked to Social Media Use

As established, excessive social media use can lead to various eating disorders.

Here are some of the most common types of eating disorders associated with social media:

• Anorexia Nervosa: People with anorexia often restrict their food intake to the point of malnutrition. Anorexia patients are fearful of gaining weight and will do anything to avert it.
• Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder: ARFID is a relatively new eating disorder that involves avoiding particular foods or food groups. Social media can contribute to the development of this disorder by promoting restrictive diets or demonizing certain foods.
  • Orthorexia: An obsession with “healthy” or “pure” eating, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies and anxiety around food.
• Binge Eating Disorder: This eating disorder causes patients to consume large quantities of food in a short period. Social media can trigger or promote binge-eating episodes.
• Bulimia Nervosa: Bulimia involves a cycle of binge eating followed by purging through self-induced vomiting, excessive exercise, or misuse of laxatives. Social media can perpetuate this disorder by promoting unhealthy methods of weight loss and unrealistic body standards.
• Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD): A condition where individuals obsess over perceived flaws in their appearance, which are often unnoticeable to others.
• Muscle Dysmorphia: Often referred to as “bigorexia,” this involves an obsession with not being muscular enough.

This list doesn’t include all other forms of eating disorders potentially exacerbated by social media.

If you or your child is having trouble with their relationship with food and body image, it’s essential to seek professional help.

Why are Social Media Lawsuits Being Filed?

Social Media Lawsuits are being filed due to allegations that platforms were designed to be addictive, particularly to minors and young adults, causing significant psychological and physical harm.

Companies are accused of failing to warn users about the risks of addiction and the potential for mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and body dysmorphia.

Social Media Lawsuits also claim that social media companies did not adequately protect children from sexual exploitation and failed to comply with federal laws designed to prevent child pornography and sex trafficking.

Victims and their families are seeking compensation for the harms suffered, including emotional distress, loss of consortium, and in some cases, wrongful death.

The litigation aims to hold social media platforms accountable for their design choices and lack of safeguards, pushing for changes to protect users, especially vulnerable minors.

If you or a loved one have suffered from mental health disorders, disordered eating, or other issues caused by social media, you may be eligible to file a claim.

Contact our law firm for a free consultation, or use the chatbot on this page to find out if you qualify for legal action instantly.

What is the Social Media Addiction MDL?

Social media sites have been linked to an increased risk of mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and body dysmorphia, particularly among younger users who spend significant amounts of time on these platforms.

The addictive nature of social media, fueled by algorithms that promote prolonged engagement, has raised serious questions about the responsibility of these companies to safeguard their users’ well-being.

Several lawsuits have been consolidated into a Multidistrict Litigation (MDL), aiming to hold social media giants accountable for their role in exacerbating these mental health crises.

The MDL seeks not only to provide a legal recourse for affected individuals but also to push for changes in how social media platforms operate.

An MDL consolidates individual lawsuits from across different jurisdictions to streamline pretrial proceedings and evidence discovery on common issues, whereas a class action combines numerous plaintiffs into a single lawsuit, representing them as a collective group with shared grievances against a defendant.

MDL is chosen for personal injury lawsuits against social media companies to efficiently handle the unique, individual claims of harm while addressing common factual and legal issues across numerous cases, ensuring personalized justice for each plaintiff.

The Master Complaint for the Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 3047) outlines the general and specific allegations that form the basis of the lawsuit.

Three main general allegations across all individual “counts” include:

• Plaintiffs allege that social media companies designed, developed, and marketed products that were knowingly addictive to minors and young adults, causing a range of harms.
• Defendants are accused of failing to adequately test or address the safety of their platforms’ features and to warn users of the addictive nature and potential harms.
• The complaint includes accusations of defective design, failure to warn, negligence, negligence per se, and violations of federal laws concerning the protection of children from sexual exploitation and abuse.

Recent Developments in Social Media Litigation

In 2022, over 1,200 families filed a lawsuit against various social media companies for the deteriorating mental health of their children due to excessive use of social media platforms.

Over 150 of these cases moved to the next phase the following year.

In one of the cases involved, Instagram led a 12-year-old girl to content that sparked her eating disorders and depression.

Because of this issue, her parents filed a case against Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram.

The plaintiff in this particular case was innocently scrolling on her Instagram page one day, looking for fitness routines.

This search led her to the eating disorder rabbit hole.

After searching for workout routines on Instagram, the algorithm showed her diet and food-related content, which would soon turn into anorexia content.

This content shows girls around her age with extremely thin bodies and disordered eating habits.

In the caption, users would share their daily food intake, diet pills, and exercise routines to get these bodies.

The constant exposure to this content caused her to develop eating disorders.

This scenario is what several cases against social media companies look like.

As of today, the multidistrict litigation (MDL) against these social media giants are still ongoing.

Advice for Affected Individuals and Families

Seeing a family member deal with an eating disorder is a heartbreaking situation for any family.

As the lawsuits against social media companies continue, taking care of your loved ones’ mental health and well-being is important.

Here’s what you can do if a loved one is suffering from eating disorders caused by social media:

• Seek Professional Help: The first step in recovery is acknowledging the issue and seeking professional help. Eating disorders are complex mental health issues that require treatment from qualified therapists and medical professionals.
• Reinforce Positive Body Image: Help your loved one develop a positive body image by focusing on their strengths and unique qualities rather than physical imperfections. Remind them that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes and is not defined by social media’s unrealistic standards.
• Practice Social Media Literacy: Educate yourself and your family on the harmful effects of social media and how to consume it responsibly. Encourage critical thinking and discuss healthy ways to engage with social media platforms.
• Speak With a Reputable Attorney: If you or a family member have experienced severe mental health issues due to social media, speak with an experienced attorney who can guide you through the legal process and fight for your rights.
• Collect Evidence: It’s crucial to document and collect evidence of the harmful content on social media platforms. These shreds of evidence can include screenshots, posts, and comments that have negatively affected you or your family member’s mental health.

TorHoerman Law: Consult With Our Social Media Harm Attorneys

Holding social media companies accountable for the harm they cause is crucial in preventing future incidents and regulating their algorithms and policies.

Don’t lose hope.

Speak with our experienced social media harm attorneys about your case, and let us fight for your rights.

Contact us today for a free consultation.

You can also use our chatbot to find out if you qualify for a Social Media Eating Disorders claim instantly.