Advice on how to starve yourself still on social media - despite Tory promises

02 March 2024 , 18:32

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Hope, 31, was 17 years old when she first developed an eating disorder

Skeletal selfies and advice on how to starve yourself are still rife on social media, despite a Tory pledge to stamp out the shocking content.

Under the Government’s Online Safety Act, tech firms will soon be required to ensure children are not exposed to such dangerous material. But when we searched sites such as X - formerly Twitter - and Tumblr to mark Eating Disorders Awareness Week, we found worrying pro-anorexia and bulimia posts within seconds.

Clearly underweight users posted photos of themselves and asked for tips on how to shed more pounds. And one bragged: “My mum gave me chips but I managed to throw them all away without eating a single one... today’s gonna be a good day.”

Anorexia survivor and campaigner Hope Virgo, 31, who was 17 when she was admitted to a Mental Health Adolescent Ward in Bristol for anorexia, said: “This type of content is extremely harmful. What the Government needs to do is work much more closely with social media firms to review issues around algorithms to ensure the right content is being shared.”

Tom Quinn, of eating disorder charity Beat, described our findings as ”alarming” and urged online platforms to “immediately remove dangerous eating disorder content”.

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In the UK, 1.25 million people suffer from eating disorders – and 12,460 children started treatment for issue in 2021/22. The Government said the Online Safety Act will ensure social media firms protect youngsters from harmful content – but added that platforms “should act now.” Tumblr removed more than 20 accounts we flagged and said its guidelines “specifically prohibit” content that promotes eating disorders.

X was approached for comment.

Contact Beat on 0808 801 0677 or visit beateating disorders.org.uk

Saskia Rowlands