TikTok’s #SkinnyTok ban: How a trend spiralled into mental health crisis

A glossy trend that once flooded TikTok, #SkinnyTok appeared harmless, just users flaunting their figures, swapping diet tips, and chasing the ‘ideal’ body. But this hashtag quietly built an empire glorifying extreme thinness, making shrinking waistlines the ultimate status symbol.

At its peak, #SkinnyTok promoted content that made undereating trendy and turned self-starvation into a challenge. Almonds for dinner? Water instead of breakfast? All celebrated with aesthetic edits and hashtags like #BodyGoals.

However, now the popular social media site TikTok has blocked the hashtag and users searching for it now get redirected to mental health resources. But while the hashtag disappeared, the damage had already been done. Because eating disorders don’t begin with hashtags, they begin in the mind.

The psychological trap behind physical behaviours

Eating disorders are not just about food or weight. They’re mental health disorders at their core, often rooted in trauma and low self-worth. Whether it’s anorexia, bulimia, or binge-eating, the behaviours are symptoms of a much deeper internal struggle. Social media, especially platforms like TikTok that reward aesthetics and extremes, can aggravate those internal battles.

According to research published by the National Library of Medicine, a study of 350 participants aged 14 to 25 found that a staggering 41.7% were likely to develop an eating disorder. Even more concerning—nearly 60% of these were women. The influence of trends like #SkinnyTok only amplifies these numbers, creating environments where unhealthy is celebrated, and seeking help is stigmatised.

Are we raising a generation at war with food?

In the age of filters and fitness influencers, there’s a thin line between health inspiration and toxic comparisons. Many young users are now associating being skinny with being successful or lovable, and fitness is often equated with thinness rather than strength or health. The shift from celebrating diverse bodies to idolising a one-size-fits-all ideal is not just regressive. It’s dangerous!

The question is: Are we heading towards a generation that sees food as the enemy and self-worth in digits on a weighing scale?

If social media can normalise starvation and glorify illness, then it must also take responsibility for reversing the narrative. Mental health education, body positivity, and genuine wellness need to replace these harmful echoes. Because behind every #SkinnyTok post is a real person, fighting a silent war between acceptance and appearance.