TikTok is affecting young girls' view on their own body image.

Question

TikTok affects how young teens, specifically girls view their own body image. It is not only TikTok where this happens, but TikTok is an app that's meant to have short videos. "Watching less than 10 minutes of videos on TikTok can negatively impact a woman’s body image...", Says Luca Ittiamni (The Guardian, 2024). As with any other social media app, this is also where influencers or anybody posting tends to try to look their best. Many women and girls will post videos specifically showing off their body that is "socially desired", and when young girls see these videos, it's easy for them to look at their own bodies and question to themselves, "why don't I look like her"? "What's wrong with my body"? In many cases, this can lead to eating disorders in girls ranging from all ages, in attempt to look like the girls that they saw online.

UNSW Sydney reported a study where they took around 200 girls, and showed them short TikTok and Instagram videos of younger female influencers that, "reflected societal appearance ideals" (UNSW Sydney, 2023). The participants who watched the videos reported immediate comparisons, judging their own bodies because they weren't like the ones in the videos. This is just one example of this happening. This is extremely dangerous because like I said before, it can easily lead to eating disorders. When girls who are still growing gain eating disorders, it can affect their bodies for the rest of their lives. In conclusion, yes, TikTok does affect young girls' body image, and can ultimately lead to potential health issues.

Answer 1

After looking into this yes, the claim that TikTok affects how young girls see their bodies seems to be true. The UNSW Sydney article was written by the university’s newsroom and is based on a real study by psychologists Jade Gurtala and Dr. Jasmine Fardouly, who both work at UNSW’s School of Psychology. The study was published in a peer-reviewed science journal called Body Image, which means experts reviewed the research before it was shared. This makes the source trustworthy and credible, not just an opinion or news story. The study showed that when young women watched short TikTok and Instagram videos featuring influencers who represented “societal beauty standards,” they immediately started comparing themselves and felt worse about their own bodies. This shows that social media platforms that focus on appearance can have a negative effect on how girls think about their looks. To find better coverage and make sure this idea is accurate, other studies and sources say the same thing. A 2023 Cureus study called “Social Comparison and Body Image in Teenage Users of the TikTok App” found that teens who spent more time on TikTok were more likely to compare themselves to others and have lower body satisfaction. A 2024 review titled “Scrolling Through Adolescence: A Systematic Review of the Impact of TikTok on Adolescent Mental Health” found that TikTok use is connected to lower self-esteem and poor body image among teens. Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health also reported that social media can cause body dissatisfaction and increase the risk of eating disorders among young girls. On top of that, a PLOS ONE study found that just a few minutes of watching pro-anorexia TikTok videos led to women feeling more unhappy with their bodies and more likely to want to be thinner. By tracing all these claims back to the original research, it’s clear the UNSW study and others are based on real scientific data, not just rumors or social media talk. All of this evidence proves that TikTok does affect young girls’ body image by promoting unrealistic beauty standards and encouraging harmful comparisons. For some girls, this can even lead to long-term health problems like eating disorders or depression.

Sources:

• UNSW Sydney Newsroom: “TikTok and body image: idealistic content may be detrimental to young women’s mental health” (2023) – https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2023/08/tiktok-and-body-image--idealistic-content-may-be-detrimental-to-

• Cureus (2023): “Social Comparison and Body Image in Teenage Users of the TikTok App” – https://www.cureus.com/articles/164349-social-comparison-and-body-image-in-teenage-users-of-the-tiktok-app

• Frontiers in Public Health (2024): “Scrolling Through Adolescence: A Systematic Review of the Impact of TikTok on Adolescent Mental Health” – https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1324485/full

• Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: “Social Media and Body Image” – https://hsph.harvard.edu/striped/social-media-body-image/

Comments

Nice work finding multiple legit sources to support your fact-check and for providing source links.

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Great job defining key terms used and finding sources that support your claim. This makes it easy to understand and follow.

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This fact-checking response has multiple positive factors. Firstly, the thorough fact-checking of the original source, the origin of the article, and the origin of the studies within the article. Secondly, you provided additional studies to bolster the original, though I would have looked at the background of those conducting the study as well. Thirdly, you provided links to these sources for the individual to read on their own time. Excellent job!

Answer 2

I totally agree with the claim that TikTok messes with how young girls see their bodies. The app constantly shows videos of influencers who look perfect, and after seeing that over and over it’s hard not to compare yourself. Even if people know the videos are filtered or edited, it still makes them feel like they don’t measure up. The study from UNSW Sydney really shows how bad this can get. After watching short TikToks that showed ideal body types, a lot of girls instantly started judging their own bodies. It just proves how fast social media can make people feel insecure about how they look.

The NBC article “It’s not worth it: Young women on how TikTok has warped their body image” talks about this exact thing. It mentions a 17-year-old girl, Kayla Christine Long, who used to watch tons of thinspo videos on TikTok and even posted one saying she only drank water all day. Her video blew up with over 2 million views before she ended up getting diagnosed with an eating disorder and had to go to treatment. She’s not the only one. Other girls said TikTok made them obsessed with their diets and workouts in really unhealthy ways. The article also says TikTok’s algorithm keeps showing that kind of content which just makes it worse.

Honestly it’s scary how easy it is for something like that to take over your mindset. TikTok might seem fun at first but the more you scroll the more you start thinking you have to look a certain way. It really does affect how girls see themselves and it can be hard to escape once it starts.

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/it-s-not-worth-it-young-women-how-tiktok-has-n1234193  

Answer 3

According to my research, brief exposure to short-form video content, such as that on TikTok and other similar platforms, can lead teens to undermine their body satisfaction and cause them to self-compare with other young women. A study was done and found that under 10 minutes of TikTok videos can lead to decreases in body image satisfaction among teenage girls. So this statement is true, and TikTok can negatively affect young women's body image, and they try to compare themselves to other women.

Sources:

https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2023/08/tiktok-and-body-image--idealistic-content-may-be-detrimental-to-?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/idealistic-influencer-videos-are-harming-young-womens-body-image-research/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Comments

I fully believe that this statement is true. As a teenage girl who has been on TikTok since it was referred to as musical.ly, I can say that I have firsthand experience with this topic, as I have seen how it can impact me and others around me who are also on TikTok. I am wondering one thing, though, about your answer. What made you pick those sources, and what makes you think that those sources are not biased?

Answer 4

I would 100% agree with this claim. It is no surprise that young girls' body image is being affected by social media, as social media (whether knowingly or not) has contributed greatly to how we view ourselves and with societal pressure and beauty standards being forced upon young girls. The National Library of Medicine, or NIH, states that "This has resulted in increasing body dissatisfaction and negative mental health outcomes, as adolescents seek validation through likes and comments," talking specifically about the effects directly related to Instagram and TikTok. It goes further onto state how the rise in body dysmorphia and eating disorders in young girls is directly related to social media on another page, with the median age of an eating disorder starting at 12 years old for young girls. With the unchecked age restrictions on social media cites, as many claim you must be at least 13 to be on the websites, it is easy to log onto a cite, lie about your age, and be exposed to many things that can be harmful to pre-teenagers, but especially young girls, as their brains are not fully developed and ready to process all that social media has to offer. 

From the NIH, an unbiased government agency, we can trust this source to give us valuable feedback as well as information. The keywords and the language used in these government websites is very neutral, only displaying hypotheses and factual evidence. Because of the government's relationship with China, there is a chance that anything relating to the United States government will be slightly in favor of TikTok, as it is a Chinese company, but after reading through both pages they both seem very reliable and not politically biased one way or another

NIH Social Media and Adolescents Page:

The Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Body Image: A Comprehensive Review - PMC

NIH Eating Disorders and Social Media Page:

Social media use among adolescents with eating disorders: a double-edged sword - PMC

Answer 5

I can confirm this is true based on sources and personal experience. I just wrote an essay for my college class on this exact topic. TikTok's algorithm has been negatively harming young users' mental health by showing model bodies and other harmful content. Seeing comments on posts talking about how pretty these girls are, which makes them question their own bodies, without knowing that there are a lot of different-looking healthy bodies. Teens struggling with body image, anxiety, depression, and eating disorders are being pushed by pictures and posts that make them compare themselves to these people.

Source: 

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/it-s-not-worth-it-young-women-how-tiktok-has-n1234193 

Comments

While I personally agree with your answer, I think that you could have included more sources on the negative effects of TikTok on body image. Maybe there are some studies that further explore this topic? I also couldn't access the NBC article from your link or from searching it on google.

Answer 6

Topics like this, TikTok being the main reason why young girls are concerned so much about their body image, become, in today's world, increasingly relevant as social media platforms started to grow and grow, being one of the main sources of information on topics like beauty, identity, and self-worth. Because these platforms have such a big impact on people's perspectives about themselves, it is very important to clarify whether this statement is a reliable one or not. 

One of the main articles that help this statement was published by The Guardian in 2024. The Guardian is a very well known newspaper, with good prepared journalists, which increases the credibility of the report.  On the other hand, the statement cites research from University of New South Wales, published in 2023. 

The study, by the Guardian, shows the fact that watching even eight minutes of short video content can influence body image satisfaction. While all types of content led to some decrease in satisfaction, more or less. In addition to this article, we see a similar finding by the UNSW one. The research expresses the same idea, how social media negatively affected young women’s body image. 

The Guardian article was published in 2024, and the research one from the UNSW, in 2023. This gives us a good understanding that the content is a relatively current discussion on the effects of social media. Therefore, the content is not one based on recycled information. 

When it comes to the accuracy of the article, especially the Guardian one, is present in  a cautiously way, using language as “ may increase risk” rather than being direct, presenting the causation. While this article is presented this way, I can say that this inclusion demonstrates some level of balance, allowing multiple perspectives. 

The Guardian article accurately presents key details from the original story, including information as to the age of participants, exposure duration. We can see that there are no misleading images or manipulated data , therefore the reporting appears consistent with the original research.

When it comes to people that wrote these articles, at the Guardian one was written by Luca Ittimani, a business and economics reporter for Guardian Australia. His activity is seen in a big number of articles, 504, which makes the article credible. On the other hand, the research article by UNSW, was written by Ben Knight. After a little research, I found his LinkedIn profile, where the University department is added. With this we can say that is a valid person.

We can acknowledge that more sites talk about this claim. For example, NBC News, in an article published in 2020, by Sarah Kaufman, a reporter in the NBC’s social newsgathering team. She suggests that TikTok may contribute to body image issues and eating disorders among young users, making this statement based on the personal testimonies from teenagers and young women. While the academic studies made by the two sources in the claim, and the NBC article, offer real-world testimonies and expert commentary, these sources suggest that the issue is widely recognized and supported by ongoing research. 

Overall, the evidence supports the connection between the title and the content, and how TikTok content can negatively affect how young women see their bodies in comparison with the content that they are watching. Because eating disorders are complex conditions, we can’t attribute all the blame to a single platform. While TikTok may contribute to these effects, we need to understand that these factors come from multiple psychological, biological, and environmental factors.

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/it-s-not-worth-it-young-women-how-tiktok-has-n1234193

https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2023/08/tiktok-and-body-image--idealistic-content-may-be-detrimental-to-

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/aug/08/tiktok-content-women-body-image-study

Answer 7

Think of this as your investigation log. Answer each question to explain what you discovered and how you got there.

1. Write a brief overall summary of your findings.

I found that the claim is mostly supported by credible evidence. A peer-reviewed scientific study found that even less than 10 minutes of exposure to TikTok videos focused on thinness, dieting, or eating disorders negatively affected young women’s body image and increased the internalization of unrealistic beauty standards. Additional reporting and expert commentary also supported concerns that TikTok’s algorithm can repeatedly recommend harmful content related to eating disorders and body image. However, the study had limitations because it only examined short-term effects and focused on women ages 18–28.

2. What primary sources did you find (e.g., transcripts, videos of politician speeches, tweets from public figures, scientific studies)? For each source, write at least one or two sentences explaining what you learned. Include all links.

Primary Source 1: Scientific Study in PLOS

This was the original scientific study referenced in the article. Researchers from Charles Sturt University surveyed 273 women ages 18–28 and exposed them to different TikTok video compilations. I learned that participants who watched pro-anorexia and “fitspiration” content experienced a greater decrease in body satisfaction compared to those who watched neutral content like cooking or nature videos.

Primary Source 2: TikTok Community Guidelines 

TikTok states that it prohibits content promoting eating disorders or dangerous weight-loss behaviors. I learned that the company claims to redirect users searching for harmful material toward support resources and helplines. This source helped me compare TikTok’s stated policies with criticism from experts who say harmful content still spreads on the platform.

3. What secondary sources did you find (e.g., newspapers, magazines)? Only use secondary sources if sufficient primary sources are not available. For each source, write at least one or two sentences explaining what you learned. Include all links.

Secondary Source 1: The Guardian Article 

The article summarized the study’s findings and included interviews with researchers, TikTok representatives, and eating disorder experts. It helped explain the larger context of concerns about social media algorithms and harmful body image content.

Secondary Source 2: Reporting on TikTok Algorithms and Harmful Content

This reporting discussed how TikTok’s recommendation system can quickly push self-harm or eating-disorder-related content to vulnerable users. It reinforced the concern that social media algorithms may amplify harmful material.

4. What potential biases or interests might each of your sources have?

• The Charles Sturt University researchers may have an interest in highlighting mental health concerns connected to social media, but the study was peer-reviewed, which increases credibility.
• TikTok has a business interest in protecting its reputation and keeping users on the platform, so it may emphasize its safety policies more than its failures.
• Butterfly Foundation focuses on preventing eating disorders, so the organization may strongly emphasize the dangers of harmful content online.
• The Guardian is a news organization that may frame stories in a way that attracts attention or emphasizes public health concerns. However, it used interviews and research to support its reporting.

5. What evidence supports the claim you are fact-checking?

The strongest evidence supporting the claim is the peer-reviewed study published in PLOS One. Participants exposed to pro-anorexia TikTok content experienced a measurable decline in body-image satisfaction after only eight minutes of viewing. Experts and organizations like the Butterfly Foundation also reported that TikTok’s algorithm can repeatedly expose users to harmful content, which may worsen body-image issues and disordered eating behaviors.

6. What evidence undermines the claim you are fact-checking?

Some evidence weakens the claim slightly. The study only measured short-term emotional effects immediately after watching videos, so it does not prove that TikTok directly causes long-term eating disorders. The study also only included women ages 18–28, meaning the findings may not apply to everyone. In addition, TikTok states that it removes eating-disorder-related content and provides mental-health resources to users searching for harmful material.

7. What happened when you tried contacting the person or group who made the original claim? (Always try to contact them—it’s okay if you don’t get a reply. For example, if the claim is that the president said something, try reaching out to the administration. If it was a Bluesky user, message that user on Bluesky.)

I was unable to directly contact the researchers or TikTok representatives for comment. However, I reviewed TikTok’s public statements and community guidelines, which responded to concerns raised in the article. TikTok stated that it does not allow content promoting eating disorders and that users searching for harmful content are redirected to support resources and helplines.

Answer 8

After concluding my research, I believe that this claim is true, as my sources confirm that TikTok usage has a direct impact on the view that young girls have of their body image. I have used the source cited in your claim in my research for evaluation. TikTok can users can produce highly idealized content and enforce unrealistic beauty standards, and a study from the School of Psychology of UNSW Science, cited in an article published by UNSW (The article that was cited for your claim), quotes that "the researchers showed 211 women aged 17 to 28 ten images or videos selected from the Instagram and TikTok accounts of young female social media influencers that reflected societal appearance ideals. They then surveyed the participants on several body image measures, using appearance-neutral content – content without people – for comparison." Additionally, features like visual editing and beauty enhancements can also contribute largely to mental health issues regarding body image, and an additional excerpt from the UNSW article states that "Appearance ideals promoted through social media are often enhanced and edited using manipulation techniques like hyper-realistic face and body filters that are becoming harder to detect, particularly with video. While the exact nature of any enhancements applied to the content in the study was unknown, participants perceived the video content they viewed to be less edited and enhanced than the images and were less satisfied with their own appearance by comparison." Evidence from a 19th News article also supports this claim as it applies to social media usage at large, as a credible researcher/instructor states,  "The more teenage girls are on social media and exposed to image-based social media in particular, the more likely they are to have poor body image,” said Amanda Raffoul, an instructor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and an expert on eating disorder prevention."

Sources: https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2023/08/tiktok-and-body-image--idealistic-content-may-be-detrimental-to-

https://19thnews.org/2023/09/social-media-teenage-girls-mental-health-body-image/