Researchers from Pew Research Center found that children between the ages of 10 and 14 who experience cyberbullying and abuse online are twice as likely to show symptoms of eating disorders such as binge eating, weight gain anxiety, or tying their self-worth to their weight.
The Pew study was taken using a sample of more than 10,000 U.S. children ages 10 to 14 in 2022. The children were asked whether they had been victims of cyberbullying before or whether they had bullied others online via text message or social media. They were also screened for symptoms of eating disorders by asking questions such as: "Do you feel like your self-esteem depends on your weight?" and "How often in the last two weeks have you been concerned or very worried about your weight?"
The study also found that children who bullied others online had a similar increase in symptoms. Shaheen Shariff, professor at McGill University and Cyberbullying Prevention researcher, suggested children who have experienced bullying because of their appearance may bully others to feel better about themselves.
Jason Nagata, study author and associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California, spoke about the importance of parents and caregivers being open and approachable when it came to dealing with problems online: "It's definitely not a one-size-fits-all solution, but I think if parents are able to have open conversations with their children about social media use, their children may be more willing to talk to them about it and seek advice."
For parents and caregivers concerned about young children developing eating disorder symptoms, the NEDA (National Eating Disorder Association) has issued a list of some indicators, including:
- Preoccupation with weight loss, food calories, and dieting
- Refusal to eat certain foods or food groups (like carbs or sugar)
- Makes excuses to avoid mealtimes
- Dental problems
- Dressing in layers
- Maintaining an excessive exercise regime
Our own research that we have published in recent years also highlight a range of problematic issues related to young people's social media use, such as social comparisons, smartphone addiction, disordered eating, and many more.