Many teens turn to social media to connect with friends, explore interests and figure out who they are. New research suggests those same platforms may also be shaping how young people think about food, eating and their bodies.
In a study published in The Journal of Adolescent Health, researchers from Simon Fraser University analyzed survey data from teens in British Columbia and found that nearly one in four reported disordered eating behaviors or significant anxiety around eating and body image. Higher risk was strongly associated with social media use and exposure to influencer-driven content related to appearance and diet.
The study drew on data collected between 2022 and 2024 from an annual youth well-being survey conducted in B.C. schools, primarily among Grade 11 students. Overall, 23% of teens reported disordered eating behaviors, with substantially higher rates among transgender and gender-expansive youth and girls who identified as lesbian, bisexual or queer.
“Social media can amplify existing insecurities and intensify image-based comparisons for all teens, and transgender and gender-expansive youth in particular might use caloric restrictions as a way to avoid developing sexual characteristics,” said Hasina Samji, PhD, a health sciences professor at Simon Fraser University and senior author of the study.
Even relatively modest amounts of social media exposure appeared to matter. The researchers found that just one to two hours of social media use per day was associated with higher odds of disordered eating among cisgender sexual minority girls and transgender and gender-expansive youth. The findings point to how quickly food- and body-related messages can influence eating behaviors during adolescence.
Disordered eating in the study included behaviors such as restrictive eating, skipping meals and heightened anxiety around food and body image. The researchers emphasized that these patterns exist on a spectrum and do not necessarily indicate a diagnosed eating disorder, but they can still have meaningful effects on physical and mental health.
The study also identified factors that helped protect against disordered eating. Teens who reported positive childhood experiences, including supportive relationships with adults, strong family bonds and a sense of belonging at school or in their community, were less likely to report problematic eating behaviors. Reduced time spent on social media showed a similar protective pattern.
“The challenges and pressures of parenting are immense, but not every child is developmentally ready for access to social media at age 13, 14, 15 or even 16,” Samji said. She noted that a teen’s ability to navigate social media safely depends on factors such as digital literacy and emotional regulation, particularly during periods of social stress.
The authors caution that the study was cross-sectional and cannot show that social media causes disordered eating. Instead, it highlights an association that may reflect a feedback loop, where vulnerable teens are both more affected by online content and more likely to seek it out.
Lead author Andrés Delgado-Ron, a public health researcher, said addressing the issue will require more than individual effort.
“Managing teens’ access to and time on social media platforms requires coordinated action from schools and public health authorities, as well as holding tech companies accountable for their algorithms,” he said.
Rather than calling for blanket bans, the researchers suggest working with teens to develop healthier, more intentional approaches to social media use while strengthening offline supports. The findings underscore that how teens eat is shaped not only by personal choices, but also by the digital environments they move through every day.
This work was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Social Science and Humanities Research Council.