"'At the start... it was toxic,' Ciara Regan (28) says of the online pro-anorexia community of which she was a member. 'Let's do this illness together' and 'Let's be the best anorexic that you can be' were examples of the type of encouragement members would give each other. 'There are all these tips and tricks,' she says."
Disordered eating cases have increased significantly in recent years, with experts identifying social media algorithms as a contributing factor that directs vulnerable individuals toward harmful body image and diet-related material. Pro-anorexia online communities actively encourage eating disorder behaviors through toxic messaging and shared tips. Ciara Regan, who developed anorexia nervosa and bulimia at age 12, participated in such communities where members mutually reinforced harmful practices. Her eating disorder development resulted from multiple stressors including parental separation, school transitions, and bullying, demonstrating how vulnerable individuals can be targeted by algorithmically-promoted harmful content.
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