Skinny photos on Instagram, weight loss groups on WhatsApp, contact exchanges on pro-ana blogs: How young people with eating disorders use online platforms and social networks.
As our cooperation partner Safer Internet reports, expectations of one's own body are often not only difficult to fulfill, but also harmful to health.
They describe themselves as “Pro-Ana” or “Pro-Mia” and look for like-minded people on the Internet: teenagers, mostly young girls, who suffer from eating disorders and interpret their illness as a lifestyle.
Those affected no longer only find diet or motivation tips on relevant online platforms , but are increasingly organizing themselves via closed groups in WhatsApp or Kik. Skinny photos on social networks serve as “thinspiration” – inspiration to be thin and starve.
Pro-Ana and Pro-Mia: Replacement community on the Internet
The term “Ana” is an abbreviation for Anorexia Nervosa (anorexia), “Mia” stands for Bulimia Nervosa (binge eating addiction). Both clinical pictures fall into the category of eating disorders. On relevant “Pro-Ana” or “Pro-Mia” platforms on the Internet, affected young people do not have to hide, but rather find contact with like-minded people. This creates a replacement community in which unhealthy eating behavior is accepted and supported as a lifestyle.
At the same time, those affected try to hide the illness from their parents, teachers or friends.
Although men are increasingly affected by eating disorders, “Pro-Ana” is primarily worn by girls and young women. How many people actually feel like they belong to the pro-ana scene cannot be clearly quantified due to the high level of anonymity within the forums and groups. It is not always clear whether young people are only slipping into anorexia because of pro-ana images, or whether users who are already suffering are specifically looking for inspiration to persevere.
Blogs as contact exchanges, groups as control bodies
“Pro-ana” is not a new phenomenon on the Internet. As early as the 1990s, numerous forums and websites emerged through which anorexics exchanged diet tips and motivated each other to lose weight. However, with the increasing popularity of social networks such as Facebook, WhatsApp or Kik, a large part of pro-ana communication has shifted to closed groups.
In most cases, young people come into contact with relevant offers for the first time through a simple internet search. Contacts with like-minded people are then made via these platforms. So-called “twin exchanges” often establish themselves in the guest books, where those affected use personal ads to specifically search for “pro-ana twins” – people with similar body measurements and weight loss goals. After the initial contact, communication with the “twins” continues privately – usually in a closed WhatsApp group.
In these groups, the young people affected find encouragement and support, but at the same time remain relatively anonymous. The group members encourage each other to lose weight and regularly exchange information about body weight and calories eaten. Photos of your own body must also be posted regularly.
Anyone who ignores the self-imposed, strict diet and exercise rules is thrown out of the community. In the groups, people often write around the clock, so it's almost impossible to switch off and people's thoughts always turn to the topic of losing weight.
“Thinspiration” – the motivation to starve
Affected young people find inspiration and motivation to lose weight primarily on blogs or platforms such as Tumblr or Instagram. Under the name “Thinspiration” (“Thinspo” for short), photos of extremely thin girls or models are posted to encourage weight loss. On Instagram alone there are more than 8 million posts #ana and almost 5.5 million #anorexia Some sufferers talk about a real “addiction” to pro-ana pictures, which they view again and again, collect or even stick in albums. Screenshots of “Thinspiration” images can be found in this sample collection of Pro-Ana and Pro-Mia on the Internet (pdf).
Instagram and Tumblr have now responded: If you search for relevant hashtags, you will not only receive a warning about disturbing content, but also advice offers for people with eating disorders. However, these measures can be easily circumvented by slightly modifying the hashtags (e.g. #proanna instead of #proana ).
The video platform YouTube also plays an important role in the pro-ana scene: Eating disorders are glorified in “Thinspiration” clips, and “guide” videos also give those affected tips on how to deal with the constant feeling of hunger. There are also so-called “recovery stories” on YouTube – former anorexics report on their journey back to healthy eating habits.
Dangerous ideals of beauty
Dangerous ideals of beauty have become established in the Pro Ana scene, which are conveyed on the Internet primarily through images. An example is the “thigh gap”: the thighs are not allowed to touch each other when the legs are closed – photos of the resulting gap are doing the rounds on the internet millions of times.
A similar cult surrounds the so-called “bikini bridge” – the distance between bikini bottoms and stomach that can be seen in extremely thin people when they lie on their backs.
The lean trend on the Internet is further reinforced by so-called “challenges” – rule-based challenges that young people face by proudly sharing the “evidence photos” on social networks.
Two examples: In the “Belly Button Challenge” you try to wrap your arm around your back and touch your belly button at the front with your fingers. The “Collarbone Challenge,” on the other hand, involves stacking as many coins as possible on the protruding collarbones.
Saferinternet.at info:
Sample collection for Pro-Ana/Pro-Mia on the Internet (pdf)
Pedophiles exploit pro-ana platforms
In connection with Pro-Ana, there are repeated reports of self-proclaimed “coaches” who offer their support in losing weight on the relevant scene blogs. The suspicion is that these usually male trainers are specifically exploiting the situation of young girls with eating disorders in order to obtain child pornographic material .
The “Pro-Ana Coaches” also set strict diet rules and monitor compliance via WhatsApp. The coaches not only demand absolute obedience from their “students”, but also regularly take nude photos or pictures in provocative poses.
It is usually the Pro-Ana supporters themselves who are looking for a private Pro-Ana trainer in personal ads. Many are also aware of the danger posed by pedophiles: the Twin exchanges repeatedly warn against sending naked photos to supposed coaches.
The question remains: Should relevant Pro Ana sites be banned? Some experts describe this as counterproductive - it could drive those affected even more than before from the public scene into private exchange groups.
Those affected can find help and advice here
- Vienna initiative against eating disorders : description of the clinical picture, risk and protective factors, prevention offers, free and anonymous advice on 0800 20 11 20 (eating disorder hotline)
Eating disorder hotline: 0800 20 11 20 - 147 Advice on the wire : Emergency call for children, young people and their caregivers – around the clock, anonymously, free of charge. By telephone (147 without area code), online advice or chat (every Friday, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.)
- Center for Eating Disorders : Advice and information for women with eating and weight problems and their relatives
- Ess-Stoerungen.at : Information on types of eating disorders, collection of links and information materials
- Netzwerk-Essstoerungen.at : Initial information and advice for those affected and their relatives in Innsbruck
- Sowhat.at : Medical and therapeutic help for people with eating disorders
- Intakt.at : Therapy center for people with eating disorders with online counseling (every Monday from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)
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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )

