Growing restriction: Exploring the reasons behind #SkinnyTok's TikTok ban
Critical Scrutiny for #SkinnyTok on TikTok
Get ready to delve into the heated debates surrounding the infamous #SkinnyTok trend on TikTok! With scrutiny coming from several EU nations, the platform faces backlash for supposedly promoting eating disorders among the youth.
The onslaught began in April when Belgian Digital Minister, Vanessa Matz, raised the alarm in Brussels, joining France and other European countries in their criticism of TikTok. This trend, they argue, preys on the gullibility of youth, pulling them into a vicious cycle of unhealthy weight loss tips and dangerous idealizations of thinness.
In these videos, TikTok users, predominantly young women, often highlight their weight loss journeys. Occasionally, emaciated bodies—with skeletal structures visible beneath their skin—are glamorized, creating a skewed beauty ideal. In severe cases, the trivialization and even celebration of issues like anorexia and bulimia add fuel to the fire.
.""TikTok algorithm ensnares youth"" warned Minister Matz towards the end of April, accusing the company of inadequately combating the trend. Merely displaying a warning beneath some videos, she felt, was not enough.
However, TikTok denies these allegations, claiming that it prohibits displaying eating disorders or promoting dangerous weight loss methods on the platform. You'll find tips and links to counseling services if you search for terms like "anorexia." Age restrictions are also enforced for certain content.
Providing proof of this stance, TikTok suspended the account of influencer Liv Schmidt who was notorious for doling out tips on how women could remain "skinny." She also ran an Instagram account called "the skinny society."
Another ongoing procedure against TikTok, initiated in February 2024, concerned the protection of minors. This involved videos showcasing violence and war among other things. The commission reported a high risk of addiction on the platform, owned by Chinese firm Bytedance. Confirmation of these allegations could lead to hefty fines for the company.
Seeking Help: A Guide
If you're in need of assistance, you can contact the Federal Institute for Public Health's helpline at 0221 892031. You can also find a counseling center for eating disorders here.
We addressed this topic in our podcast on June 5, 2025, under episode 630. You can listen to it here.
Our Sources:
- TikTok search for #skinnytok
- Agence France-Presse (AFP)
- BZGA
- The heated debate over #SkinnyTok on TikTok extends to the realm of mental health, as critics argue it promotes unhealthy weight loss practices and fosters dangerous ideals of thinness among young users.
- Amidst the criticism, TikTok has been accused of inadequately combating the trend, with one notable influencer, Liv Schmidt, having her account suspended for promoting harmful weight loss methods.
- Aside from the controversy surrounding #SkinnyTok, TikTok faces scrutiny over the protection of minors on the platform, with concerns about the potential for addiction and exposure to violent content.
