Filtered Feeds, Real Consequences: Examining the Impact of “SkinnyTok” During Eating Disorder Awareness Month

By Dr. Cynthia Vejar, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Lebanon Valley College

As Eating Disorder Awareness Month highlights the importance of early intervention and open conversations, a social media trend known as “SkinnyTok” is drawing increased attention from mental health professionals.

SkinnyTok refers to TikTok content that promotes extreme thinness, restrictive eating, and weight-loss-focused messaging. Posts may include “what I eat in a day” videos featuring very low calorie counts, body-check videos, or so-called “body goals” content that frames thinness as a sign of discipline, success, or self-worth. While some of this content appears subtle, experts warn that its messaging can normalize unhealthy behaviors.

“This content often normalizes and glamorizes behaviors that are associated with eating disorders,” said Dr. Cynthia Vejar, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Lebanon Valley College. “It can also present very unrealistic body standards and frame them as achievable or desirable for everyone, which can be especially harmful to young people who are still forming their sense of identity and sense of self.”

Adolescents and college students are particularly vulnerable to these messages. During this stage of life, many are asking foundational questions about identity and belonging. When social media feeds repeatedly equate thinness with attractiveness, discipline, or even moral virtue, it can significantly shape how students evaluate themselves.

“When their feeds are filled with messages that equate thinness with success, attractiveness, or even moral virtue, it can have a huge impact on how they evaluate themselves,” Vejar said. Over time, exposure to weight-loss transformations and praise for restrictive habits can shift self-perception. “That can lead to negative self-talk like, ‘I’m not good enough’ or ‘I don’t have self-control,’ which can impact self-worth over time.”

The design of social media platforms can intensify the issue. Algorithms are built to show users more of the content they engage with. Even brief interaction with weight-loss videos can quickly lead to a feed saturated with similar messaging.

“When someone sees this kind of content over and over, it can start to feel normal — like it’s just what everyone is doing,” Vejar explained. That normalization can distort reality, making extreme behaviors appear common or expected.

For students with a history of dieting, body dissatisfaction, anxiety, or perfectionism, the risks may be even greater. “For someone who already has a history of dieting, body dissatisfaction, anxiety, or perfectionism, this kind of content can act as a trigger,” Vejar said. “It can validate harmful thoughts they’re already having.” Messaging that frames restrictive behaviors as admirable can reinforce disordered patterns and make it harder to recognize when help is needed.

Parents, educators, and peers are encouraged to watch for warning signs that social media may be contributing to unhealthy behaviors. These can include sudden changes in eating habits, increased anxiety or guilt around food, excessive time spent consuming weight-loss content, frequent body-checking, and withdrawing from social situations involving food.

Even individuals who do not develop a diagnosable eating disorder may feel the emotional toll of constant comparison. “Constant comparison can lead to feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, and chronic dissatisfaction with one’s body or life,” Vejar noted. Thoughts such as “I’ll feel confident once I look like that” or “I need to change myself to be accepted” can increase anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Colleges and universities play a key role in addressing these concerns. Rather than discouraging social media use entirely, campuses can focus on helping students build media literacy and resilience. Workshops on body image, faculty and staff training to recognize signs of disordered eating, accessible counseling services, and inclusive representation in campus materials all contribute to a supportive environment.

“The goal is not to tell students, ‘Don’t use social media,’ but rather to help them develop a more critical and compassionate relationship with what they see online,” Vejar said.

Students can also take proactive steps to protect their mental health by curating their feeds, setting boundaries around scrolling, reminding themselves that online content is highly curated and often edited, and reaching out for support if they notice changes in mood or eating habits.

Eating Disorder Awareness Month serves as a reminder that recovery is possible and that no one has to navigate these challenges alone. Through open dialogue and accessible resources, communities like Lebanon Valley College continue working to ensure students feel supported both online and offline.

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