Key Takeaways
- Eating disorders among those aged 10 to 19 have risen by 86% since 2012, coinciding with the rise of social media and Covid.
- The age of onset for eating disorders is falling, with some children as young as 11 being diagnosed.
- A blanket minimum age prohibition for social media use may not be effective in protecting young people from eating disorders and may have unintended consequences.
- Social media companies should be held accountable for the harm caused by their algorithms and systems, and should be required to take responsibility for keeping users safe.
- A duty of care for social media companies, along with transparency, risk mitigation, and enforceable penalties, is necessary to protect young people from eating disorders.
Introduction to Eating Disorders and Social Media
Soon after the 2022 election, a woman visited the electorate office to share her family’s journey through anorexia, highlighting the lack of effective medical support and treatment, as well as the compounding mental health issues and financial pressure that came with it. Her story was not unique, as eating disorders among those aged 10 to 19 have risen by 86% since 2012, roughly coinciding with the rise of social media and Covid. The number of admissions to the ED unit at Monash Children’s hospital in Melbourne, for example, more than doubled in 2020 compared to the mean annual admissions in 2016-2019.
The Impact of Social Media on Eating Disorders
The age of onset for eating disorders is also falling, with some children as young as 11 being diagnosed. Social media has been identified as a significant contributor to the rise in eating disorders, with algorithms that feed those with a propensity for eating disorders, and the use of coded hashtags to subvert AI moderation systems. According to Butterfly Foundation surveys, almost two-thirds of respondents say social media makes them feel worse about their body. University of Melbourne research shows that people with eating disorders are almost 400% more likely to receive diet content and almost 4,000% more likely to receive eating disorder content on TikTok.
Government Response to Eating Disorders and Social Media
The Australian government has introduced a social media ban for children under 16, which is in part the result of the work done by the author, Zoe Daniel, who commissioned research and brought together experts, peak and advocacy groups, parents, and those with lived experience of eating disorders. However, Daniel argues that this ban does not go far enough in holding social media companies accountable for the harm caused by their algorithms and systems. She voted against the age ban in the last parliament because it fails to make the companies accountable and may have unintended consequences, such as taking away a vital source of mental health support and social networks for young people.
The Need for a Duty of Care for Social Media Companies
Daniel tabled a bill in the last parliament that would have introduced an overarching duty of care for social media companies, the ability to turn off or reset the algorithm, transparency in the way their systems operate, risk mitigation, and enforceable penalties for non-compliance. This approach is backed by several organizations, including the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education, the Foundation for Social Health, the Human Rights Law Centre, Reset Tech Australia, the Butterfly Foundation, and the Black Dog Institute. However, the government has not yet implemented these changes, and the work remains incomplete.
Conclusion and Call to Action
The author concludes that while the social media ban for children under 16 may help protect young people, it is not enough to address the complex issue of eating disorders and social media. It is time for the government to show real strength and make social media companies make their spaces safe, by law. The author urges readers to contact helplines such as the Butterfly Foundation, Beat, or the National Eating Disorders Association for support and resources. Ultimately, it is up to the government and social media companies to take responsibility for protecting young people from the harm caused by eating disorders and social media.
