For years, parents, teachers and health professionals have worried about how social media affects children and teenagers.
Over the past decade, many young people have experienced cyber – bullying. In response, the Australian Labor Government recently introduced a bill banning children under the age of sixteen from certain social media platforms, including: Snapchat, Meta (Facebook), TikToknand YouTube.
Another issue affecting young people is body image. Not surprisingly, Instagram images and reels and TikTok videos often portray unattainable beauty standards and lifestyles.
Now, researchers are realising that getting off social media can reverse some of these negative effects.
Researchers reveal that deleting social media reverses harm
According to Lauren Novak, researchers from Flinders University had teens deleting social media, especially TikTok. Psychologist and researcher, Dr Simon Wilksch has raised alarm in social media and its impact on body image. He’s vocally backed Australian Government’s ban on social media for children under sixteen.
He’s also urged governments to offer more treatment options. for young people with eating disorders.
Dr. Wilksch told Herald Sun:
As a psychologist working with people with an eating disorder, I see the devastating toll these illnesses can take.
Social media platforms are image and video-based, constantly giving users the meesage. that how they look is important and that efforts to change their appearance will lead to greater likability by others.
(’Devastating toll’: Aus researchers team up with teens to fight TikTok – fuelled eating disorders, Lauren Novak, Herald Sun, 15 September 2025)
Dr. Wilksch highlights how teenagers are vulnerable, due to peer relationships and their need for acceptance.
The research
A trial by the Media Smart Targeted (MST) included over 500 13 to 25 – year – olds across Australia and New Zealand.
Dr. Willksch said that the rate of young people seeking help for eating disorders has doubled over the past twelve years.
On the I Am Media Smart Fact Sheet, Dr Wilksch recorded:
- 50% of boys and 75% of girls between 13 – 25 report having poor body image
- A study of 1,000 Year Seven and Year Eight students revealed 52% of girls and 45% of boys have recently displayed disordered eating behaviour
Poor body image is linked to many health issues, including:
- Higher risk of depression
- Higher risk of anxiety
- Low self – esteem
- Self – harm
- Substance abuse
- Sleep disorders
- Unhealthy relationship with food (no surprise, really)
- Unhealthy relationship with exercise
- A drop in academic performance
- Lower school attendance
- Poor peer relationships
Parents of children under sixteen granted consent for their children to be surveyed. Participants over sixteen gave their own consent.
What can be done to help young people struggling with body image?
Content warning: this part of the post deals with suicide
Dr. Wilksch encourages schools and health practitioners to display the MST data.
Obviously, healthcare for young people needs to be adequate. Unfortunately, services like Headspace — which is meant to help young people within that age group — are often ill – equipped to help young people in dire circumstances. Unfortunately, they don’t have enough qualified psychologists and psychiatrists that deal with issues as severe as self – harm and severe mental illness.
Unfortunately, too many inpatient services aren’t properly equipped either. In 2011, Albury Councillor, Stuart Baker and his wife Annette lost their only daughter, Mary to suicide. She was only fifteen and had a long battle with an eating disorder after an abcess removal and root canal treatment.
Paeditricians initially dismissed Mary’s inability to eat, telling Stuart and Annette that it was “all in her head”. She battled the eating disorder for three years before tragically losing her life.
In the aftermath of Mary’s death, Stuart, Annette and their two sons have worked tirelessly to end the stigma around mental health and suicide. For years, Stuart and Annette held the Survivors of Suicide and Friends Winter Solstice to help people who’ve lost loved ones to suicide.
Mary Baker’s tragic passing exposed the fatal flaws in youth mental health system and the need for better treatment for young peoole with eating disorders.
It’s great that the media is shining a light on youth mental health, the effects of social media and disordered eating. I hope society keeps up with the fight and finds a solution that saves future generations.
If you are in crisis, please call 000 (or your national emergency number).
If you’re in Australia and need help, you can contact Lifeline: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 or visit the website.
If you need help with an eating disorder, you can visit the Butterfly Foundatiin website.