On TikTok, there are thousands of videos that offer advice for viewers who want to slim down. That archive raises some complex moral questions, and regulators in the European Union are looking for answers.
The video archive in question is collected under the hashtag #SkinnyTok, which applies to videos that discuss calorie counting, intermittent fasting, and other controversial weight loss strategies. #SkinnyTok took off on its namesake platform earlier in April, leading to widespread qualms about the hashtag’s potential links to anorexia and other forms of disordered eating.
Clara Chappaz, the Minister of State for Digital Affairs of France, raised the alarm about #SkinnyTok in a video on her personal TikTok account. Chappaz referred the “unacceptable” trend to regional authorities, who passed on her concerns to the European Commission.
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@clara.chappaz Et si on parlait plutôt de #StrongTok ? S’aimer, commence par se respecter. Ces modèles d’extrême maigreur peuvent faire beaucoup de mal. #skinnytok #fyp ♬ son original – clara.chappaz
Thomas Regnier, a spokesperson for the European Commission told Politico that his organization is “aware of the issue raised” in France and is “ready to cooperate” on an investigation. The E.U. has already studied the TikTok algorithm’s effect on body image, and that ongoing research could be linked to the #SkinnyTok probe.
For years, prominent creators have voiced concerns about negative correlations between digital media and body positivity. The rise of TikTok has arguably made that connection more pronounced. The app has placed restrictions on some types of dieting content, and a disclaimer on the #SkinnyTok landing page reminds visitors that “you are more than your weight.”
Even with those measures in place, toxic ideas about body image are still prevalent on TikTok. Steroid-like drugs, for example, are touted in many videos as an easy solution for building muscle mass. YouTube has already expressed concerns about the “imitable behaviors” that could result from idealized body standards — now it’s TikTok’s turn to take action.
The ByteDance-owned app isn’t the only social media giant to face E.U. scrutiny. The continental body recently announced that Apple and Meta would be the first two companies to receive fines as a result of the Digital Markets Act, which passed in 2022.
