The Dangerous Return of “Skinny is In” and Why Social Media Makes it Worse Than Ever
Decided to expand on the content we really need during NEDA Awareness.
For a while it felt like we were making real progress. More diverse bodies were showing up in the media, on runways, in films and in TV shows. We were seeing music artists of all shapes and sizes strut their talent and exude the type of badassery we all hope to have and be brave enough to share with them. The rigid beauty standards of the past seemed to be loosening, allowing more people to see themselves represented in a way that isn't tied to size or weight. But recently, a disturbing shift has taken over social media - the resurgence of the toxic “skinny is in” mentality.
This isn’t just a passing trend. It’s a dangerous societal backslide, one that threatens to udo years of work toward body acceptance and eating disorder awareness. What makes it even more insidious this time around? Social media’s relentless algorithmic grip, pushing harmful beauty standards harder and faster than ever before.
I thank the heavens that I went through adolescence at a time when social media was just beginning to emerge, rather than being the all-consuming marketing platform it is today. I can’t scroll through TikTok, Instagram, or any other platform without seeing influencers claim, “I’m not fat, I just have a cortisol face,” or being bombarded by ads for the latest weight loss, de-bloat, or appetite-suppressing pills and drinks. It’s hard to go even two minutes without some influencer posting their "before and after" photos of perfectly edited, re-shaped abs, promising they've discovered the secret to lower body fat and feeling confident in anything you wear.
Why This Shift is so Dangerous
The algorithm feeds obsession. Unlike when I was in school - when toxic body ideals were mostly limited to magazines, TV, and if you were lucky like me some self proclaimed witty entitled bullies - today’s social media platforms are designed to personalize and reinforce content. If you engage with even one post promoting thinness, and even just a “healthy recipe,” your feed is flooded with more of the same. “Thinspo” has evolved into more subtle, aesthetic-driven content under the guise of “wellness,” “that girl” routines, and “clean eating.” Social media makes it harder than ever to escape these messages.
The rise of “Health Washing.” In the past , the ultra thin beauty standard was more blatant - stick thin celebrities, diet culture front and center. Now it’s masked under the language of “health” and “discipline.” Extreme and rapid weight loss is framed as self-care, disordered eating patterns rebranded as fasting or detoxing, and over exercising is seen as commitment or a representation of someone’s strength rather than compulsion. It’s easier than ever to fall into a dangerous cycle without realizing how harmful it really is.
The Comparison Game is Stronger Than Ever. Growing up, body comparison was still harmful, but it wasn’t as constant as it is today. Young people don’t just see edited celebrity images - they compare themselves to influencers, friend, and even AI generated perfection on a daily basis. Filters, body warping tools, and unrealistic beauty standards are making it impossible to distinguish reality from fiction. This constant exposure feeds the feeling of “never enough,” a core fuel for disordered eating. As someone who already has extreme issues with distortion in regards to body, portion sizes, how many calories burned counts as “enough,” etc. this leads to a very dangerous came of tug of war with death.
The pressure on young girls, and boys, too. We already know how damaging the early 2000s “heroin chic” era was for young people’s self esteem and mental health. Today, the reach is even wider. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram expose younger and younger audiences to these trends, pushing the idea that their bodies need to fit an unrealistic mold to be valued. It’s not just teenage girls - adults, men, and nonbinary people are also feeling the pressure to shrink themselves and be seen as worthy. As a non-binary person, I struggled with how my body didn’t fit into the narrow categories of traditional gender norms. My eating disorder, in many ways, fed into the sense of control and relief I found in not having a chest. I had no shape, no visible body fat, and for a while, the only sense of confidence I felt came from the ability to shrink into whatever I wore. I could blend in, disappear into the background, and avoid being "attractive" to men, which I thought was a victory. In reality, it was a way of distancing myself from expectations that never truly aligned with who I was. And honestly, as time has passed, my body has changed and it has become harder and harder to see right before my eyes how horrific the narrative has become again.
So, what am I doing to try and navigate this? I’m being really critical of the content I consume, calling out trends for what they are, supporting media that shows real bodies and the one I’ve been trying to hone in on the most is being mindful of how to talk about our own body. If a post makes me feel bad about my body or drives me to start comparing then I unfollow and report it. When I see social media pushing “skinny is in” messaging I recognize it for what it is: a rebranded version of diet culture that thrives on my insecurity, and yours too.
The way we speak about ourselves has a profound impact on others, especially young people. For the past few years, I've been my own biggest bully. The number of self-deprecating, intrusive, and downright cruel thoughts I have every day (yes, even now) is overwhelming. It's exhausting. I've gotten far too comfortable relying on my loved ones to unload all of these thoughts onto. What I haven’t fully considered is how venting to them could unintentionally affect the way they view themselves, too. I fear that I’ve allowed my struggles with weight, appearance, and self-hate to define my personality. No one wants to be around that.
The return of the "skinny is in" mentality is more than just a passing trend—it’s a public health crisis. With social media amplifying harmful messages, products, and ideologies like never before, we need to be more vigilant than ever in protecting ourselves and the next generation from its destructive grip.