A new study reveals the alarming impact of TikTok on young adults’ body image, showing that just 7 to 8 minutes of exposure to certain content can significantly damage one’s body image.
Researchers in Australia studied 273 female TikTok users aged 18 to 28. Participants were split into two groups: one watched what the authors deemed “pro-anorexia” and “fitspiration” content, while the other viewed neutral videos like nature and cooking clips. Interestingly enough, both groups reported a decrease in their self-esteem after watching the videos. But those exposed to fitspiratino content had the greatest decrease in body image satisfaction. They also experienced an increase in internalization of beauty standards.
This isn’t an isolated finding. Other studies have shown that prolonged social media use is linked to increased anxiety, depression and disordered eating behaviors.
One of the most concerning aspects is how widespread this content is. Sixty-four percent of participants reported seeing disordered eating videos on their For You page without searching for it. Even seeking out positive content on TikTok can lead to inadvertent exposure to harmful material.
The study’s findings add to the ongoing discussion of the negative impact of social media on the mental and physical health of young adults. Earlier this year at a U.S. Senate hearing that included five major tech company executives, including TikTok CEO Shou Chew, senators made one thing clear: tech companies need to be held responsible for not protecting young users from harm.
“You have blood on your hands,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham in his opening remarks. “You have a product that’s killing people … You can’t be sued, you should be!”
While reducing time on TikTok can limit exposure, the study shows that it only takes a few minutes to cause serious damage. In order to protect one’s body image, it might be time for young adults to rethink how they use social media.
