TikTok trend 'Slavic doll' raises alarm over anorexia links

Another dangerous trend has emerged on TikTok that might pose a threat, especially to young people. Under the hashtag "Slavic doll," videos of dramatically thin young women appear. Everything suggests that this content is "inspirational" for people struggling with anorexia. On social media, content that clearly promotes eating disorders is banned and removed, so it is often hidden under various "codes" known to those in the know.

The fact that "Slavic doll" is a code used by people actively starving themselves may also be suggested by many videos tagged with the hashtag #katemoss. This refers to the harmful words of English supermodel Kate Moss, who once stated that "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels." Some of the videos in the "Slavic doll" trend use a recording of this quote as an audio background.

Anorexia is a disease with the highest mortality rate among all mental disorders. Its main mechanisms are a tremendous fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of one's own body. Prolonged starvation causes damage to all major systems in the body, especially the skeletal and reproductive systems. Besides extreme malnutrition, the high mortality rate among people with anorexia is also due to suicides.

Researchers on the topic agree that social media plays an important role in developing and maintaining harmful eating habits. A recent article in the scientific journal Frontiers reported that the number of cases of eating disorders has been increasing since the pandemic. The text emphasized that the improper use of social media platforms is likely a significant factor contributing to this phenomenon.

Anorexia most often begins to develop in early adolescence. The average age of onset of the first symptoms is 12 years. Social media can contribute to the development of the disorder in two ways. Firstly, like traditional media, by showing disproportionately many very slim people, they create unrealistic beauty standards. We recently wrote about how the TikTok algorithm promotes "beautiful people." Secondly, following other people's accounts in the active phase of eating disorders can create "inspiring" and "mutually supportive" relationships in starving each other. The "Slavic doll" trend was created for this latter purpose.