Pro-Eating Disorder Communities Find New Spaces Online

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KQED

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.6 • 656 Ratings

🗓️ 6 January 2025

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Pro-anorexia content is spreading on all social media platforms, but on X it is thriving. So-called “pro-ana” communities, which attract tens of thousands of users, circulate photos glorifying thinness and promote unhealthy dieting advice, which is then amplified through algorithmic recommendations. Although some tech companies have attempted to curb this issue, the rollback of content moderation efforts following Elon Musk’s acquisition of X has allowed this harmful content to grow “out of control” according to The Atlantic’s Kaitlyn Tiffany. We’ll talk about the impacts on adolescents and get advice for parents and caregivers. Guests: Dr. Jennie Wang-Hall, psychologist, specializes in eating disorders, anxiety, and relationship issues Kaitlyn Tiffany, staff writer covering internet culture and technology, The Atlantic Kristina Lerman, senior principal scientist at the Information Sciences Institute, University of Southern California Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:00.0	Hey, forum listeners. It's Alexis. Did you hear that forum is launching a video podcast? It is true.
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0:14.0	We can't wait to bring you into the studio for our conversations on Bay Area Culture, California News, and beyond.
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0:32.4	Greetings, boomtown.
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0:48.8	From KQED in San Francisco, I'm Grace Juan in Fermina Kim.
1:10.5	Coming up on forum, celebrating thinness is nothing new on the internet, but a lack of content moderation on sites like X, formerly known as Twitter, has given rise to a dangerous corner of social media, one where users create communities that encourage eating disorders.
1:26.3	We'll talk to experts about what's happening
1:28.0	and what can be done about it.
1:29.8	That's next, after this news. This is Forum. I'm Grace Juan in Fermina Kim. On this show, we'll be talking about eating disorders and the impact of social media.
2:01.4	If you or someone you know may be struggling with an eating disorder, there are ways to get help.
2:06.5	The National Alliance for Eating Disorders has a helpline, and that number is 866662-1235.
	...

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