On June 1, TikTok globally prohibited the #SkinnyTok trend and hashtag following pressure from European legislators, as highlighted by Euractiv.

SkinnyTok encourages eating disorders and could affect individuals, particularly young women, in striving for an unattainable beauty ideal.

While the ban has been instituted, such content remains available. As noted by Mashable, content moderation frequently alters terminology rather than the actual content. Phrases like “unaliving” are used in place of suicide, “seggs” replaces sex, and corn emojis substitute for porn. In a similar manner, SkinnyTok content is still discoverable under various labels and is frequently showcased on FitTok, TikTok’s fitness community.

This ban came after inquiries by policymakers in Brussels and Paris, which uncovered that SkinnyTok was saturated with young women sharing severe diet plans and weight-loss advice.

TikTok representative Paolo Ganino mentioned that search results for #skinnytok have been restricted due to its link with unhealthy weight loss material. The prohibition is part of TikTok’s ongoing assessment to tackle emerging risks.

Currently, searching for the hashtag directs users to a page that states: “You’re not alone.” It encourages individuals with inquiries about body image, food, or exercise to reach out for support and provides resources, including a number for the National Alliance for Eating Disorders and a link to the TikTok Safety Center.

France’s Digital Minister Clara Chappaz characterized this as a “collective victory,” according to Politico.

The ban follows an article in The Cut discussing a detrimental community led by SkinnyTok influencer Liv Schmidt. Online communities advocating extreme thinness and disordered eating have existed since the early internet days, with SkinnyTok as the most recent iteration.

The pursuit of thinness is detrimental as it correlates with real-life advantages for thinner individuals. Anti-fat bias influences employment, finances, and relationships. A LinkedIn study indicated that overweight workers in the UK earn more than $2,000 less per year than their thinner counterparts. In both the U.S. and Germany, women face a pronounced adverse weight-income correlation. MIT researchers discovered that managers had reduced expectations for trainees they deemed overweight. Thinner individuals often receive superior treatment in healthcare and find it easier to access services like air travel.

Numerous activists contend that the answer to fatphobia is not the promotion of thinness, as advocated by SkinnyTok, but rather addressing fatphobia itself. Body positivity advocates caution that fatphobia is exacerbated by elements such as race, class, and disability.

A report from the Dove Self-Esteem Project reveals that nine out of ten girls follow social media profiles that diminish their sense of beauty, with over half unable to achieve online beauty benchmarks. Nearly 30 million Americans suffer from an eating disorder, with only 27% of women seeking treatment. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, more than one person dies every hour due to an eating disorder. Research demonstrates a clear correlation between social media use and eating disorders, as reported by the Eating Recovery Center.

For those needing to discuss eating habits, text “NEDA” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or explore the National Eating Disorder Association website for additional information.

If facing a mental health emergency, reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. Contact the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860 or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text “START” to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Reach the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, available Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email [email protected]. Consider utilizing the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat at crisischat.org. Here is a compilation of international resources.