I’d love to be a bug on the wall in about 100 years to gain a better perspective of what the Internet is really doing to all of us. Obviously, the benefits have been tremendous for business and individuals. I love being able to access information easily and quickly. While preparing my Discovering Biological Psychology text, I happened to mention to Mr. F that I had been reading about brain worms. Fascinated with the topic, Mr. F rushed to his computer to learn more. We couldn’t do that, even with a terrific encyclopedia, just a few years ago.

But there’s always a downside, and the trick is to figure out how to minimize the damage of child pornography, government censorship, and other challenges without wrecking the whole thing. One of the problems we face is the proliferation of “pro-ana” or “pro-mia” websites, or sites that promote the eating disorders anorexia and bulimia, respectively.

British legislators have complained about the over 500 pro-ana and pro-mia websites, although little can be done (or perhaps should be done) about shutting them down. MySpace and Facebook are more vulnerable targets for censorship, as they feature terms of use that can be applied to remove unwanted content.

Part of the controversy is due to the confusion over what the sites actually do. Some claim to be “supporting” recovering individuals with eating disorders, while others offer outright frank advice about how to control hunger in order to maintain anorexia. Many are in a gray area between these two options. They say that they are not for those who want to maintain an eating disorder, but intentions and realities are not always the same. Given the fact that well-intentioned, proactive educational programs about eating disorders actually seem to increase [1], rather than prevent higher rates, we can assume that even the most benign sites can be misused.

As disturbing as the sites are, censorship is also a slippery slope. The British are taking the middle road by warning the public about the dangers of such sites. Hopefully, they recognize that publicizing the sites further, as I am also doing in this post, might bring people to them that might otherwise not go. However, philosophically, I have never bought into the idea that there is such a thing as “bad” truth, and that we’re better off not knowing something. Shine a light on the issue, and let people decide for themselves.

House of Thin

Reasons to be Thin

Dying to be Thin

Ana’s Thinspiration

1.  Mann, T. (1995). Positive and negative effects of eating disorder prevention programs: A longitudinal evaluation. Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation, Stanford University. Mann, T., Nolen-Hoeksma, S., & Huang, K. Are two interventions worse that none? Joint primary and secondary prevention of eating disorders in college females. Health Psychology, 16, 215-225. 


18 Comments

aoneil · February 24, 2008 at 3:25 pm

I agree that publicizing about, and giving people a chance to respond to, the dangers of pro-ana and pro-mia websites is important. Research has shown that subjecting people to belief-threatening material on an issue prepares them for stronger future attacks; in a sense, it “inoculates” them against later persuasion. This has proven true for both peer pressure and media influence among children. So, maybe if we present children with the harmful effects of eating disorders and the pressures that accompany them, and then have them make arguments against those pressures, they might be more likely to avoid future temptation. It seems this would be much more effective than just avoiding the issue altogether.

rcrowley · February 24, 2008 at 7:39 pm

Regulation of websites that discuss eating disorders is a sticky situation; it would be hard to draw lines as to what is openly supporting eating disorders, and what is supporting PEOPLE with eating disorders. As with most issues, eating disorders are not going to disappear if you take away a few websites. If someone is moving towards developing an eating disorder, they will most likely do so whether they run across a website promoting it or not. That is not to say that the information should be easily accessible, but websites are the root of the issue. Also, if a website is helpful to one person that is trying to recover from an eating disorder, but is also accessed by someone developing the disorder, what is more important? Helping someone recover, or perpetuating the problem for another individual? Hopefully if people do become more aware of the problems, legitimate support will be created for people struggling with these issues.

bhidahl · February 24, 2008 at 10:22 pm

These sites are quite alarming. And we can never truly control what people have access to on the internet. This is why I think parents should try and monitor what their children are exposed to. I hate the idea of giving ten year olds their own computers in their room, and their own cell phones. Personally, I never had a cell phone until I started to drive and I never had my own computer before I went to college – and I survived. In order to negate the bad influences that children will ineviably be exposed to, such as sites like those mentioned, I think junior high and high school health classes are extremely important. That way children can hopefully be educated on both sides of the issue.

Swedish55 · February 24, 2008 at 11:41 pm

Sadly, I don’t think that there is a lot we can do over the internet to control these bad influences. I feel like people who would actively look for these types of websites already have an eating disorder, and are looking for a type of support group for their disorder which they can not necessarily find anywhere else. It is sad that there are people out there publicly supporting eating disorders, but then again, it’s not surprising when you consider all the messages that our culture sends about beauty in magazines, on television, on the internet, on billboards. We have reality shows about people competing to loose weight, and ordinary people getting plastic surgery. Yet these shows and advertisements are not going to go away, so you could argue that the best thing to do is to educate. Yet there are so many other factors that are closer to home that influence people with eating disorders that can not be prevented or even influenced by education, especially education in the school system. I even had a close friend who briefly struggled with bulimia when we were in our early teens, whom confessed to learning about that “weight loss idea” from a 9th grade health class. The people that I know today that are struggling with an eating disorder are also struggling with a LOT of personal, family, and social issues, and are not solely desiring to look like a model.

bblaine · February 25, 2008 at 12:21 pm

These websites are slightly scary and even scarier is that no matter what, this information will be out there for people to find. The picture that is posted is really sad. I have personally known a few people with anorexia and/or bulimia. One of my friends was willing to get help, but couldn’t seem to kick the problem. It ruined our friendship and now we don’t even speak anymore. I hate that the disease interfered so greatly in our lives. Everytime I would see her not eat, it was like I ate even more, which would lead me to feel guilty and shame for eating a lot. I didn’t want to be around someone that projected their problems onto me. These diseases need to be dealt with because they lead to so much more than the baseline definition of them.

bldrysdale · February 26, 2008 at 8:49 pm

These websites are a scary idea, but as mentioned it is difficult to control these things. The websites for people recovering for from eating disorders are probably very helpful and a good support network, but even those sites might have certain members that go on and discuss ways people can work on keeping the disorders. It would be hard to maintain a website that helped while getting rid of websites with any comments promoting the disorder. I agree with bhidahl that hopefully parents are regulating children’s internet viewing. I also hope that there is a way to stop or limit sites that promote the eating disorders.

biopsych · February 26, 2008 at 11:29 pm

I agree with the others who have said that censoring these websites is extremely hard to do. However, I think that whatever efforts that can be done to warn the public about the dangers of following the advice on these websites should be done. I was looking up dieting tips online and was shocked to come across websites like the ones mentioned which gave explicit instructions on how to lose weight via an eating disorder. There are so many people searching for the quick fix and unfortunately these websites are that fix that many people are looking for.

kenmorrison · February 27, 2008 at 11:55 am

I think that the censorship of these websites is not the important thing to do, because for me personally I can’t look at an anorexic person for very long before it starts to make me nauseous. I can tolerate a lot of gross things but to see a person putting their body through that type of torment is unbearable. I saw a video in my abnormal psych class during our lectures on anorexia and bulimia, where companies are starting to model regular sized women and possibly promoting that might bring more acceptance to a natural body type.

love2run · February 27, 2008 at 10:54 pm

I think kenmorrison proved a fundamental point to the epidemic of these alarming, yet very sad websites that are reaching people from both genders, all ages, and all races…and that is the simple statement that was stated in the above post…”because for me personally I can’t look at an anorexic person for very long before it starts to make me nauseous. I can tolerate a lot of gross things but to see a person putting their body through that type of torment is unbearable.” These individuals who are struggling with this very lonely and distressing illness, often times loathe commentary like this and it only comfirms more for them that they are not worthy of being looked at because it makes people “nauseous”. Am I saying that I support and agree with these websites…heavens no, but I am saying that in essence, if this is the only place that they feel like they are supported or feel at the least bit “normal” and not judged, it makes sence to me why one would continue to go back to feel like they belong somewhere. I personally think that if we want to help at all with this growing issue, we need to go beyond what meets the eye, and look within at what the real problems are and not pass judgement at what we see until we know the realness behind it.

jensoc07 · March 3, 2008 at 11:42 am

I agree that there is little we can do about the websites. You can virtually find almost anything you want on the internet which is cool and scarey at the same time. These sights sadden me because I know people with eating disorders and I have been in an atmosphere with a few people with eating disorders and they feed off of each other. It is a very competitive disease. Yes it is true that people may find support visiting these websites, but we do not want to be giving people support to further their disorder. censorship of such websites would also be hard because that is a very contraversial issue. If the government were to censure these websites, what other websites would be allowed to get censored. Once we open up that box we are in for a lot more controversy.

bnfowler · March 9, 2008 at 5:14 pm

The internet cannot be censored, and in cases like this it is truly sad. I had a friend who was anorexic and upon finding out she confided in me that she had an anorexic xanga (back in the days before myspace). On this site she had a secret identity and whole separate set of friends. There were people who supported her and told her ways in which to “be strong”. This was so sickening. I am glad that girls are able to find a group of people who make them feel loved and whatnot, but I highly doubt if she would have had the disorder for so long if she had not had this support group. These internet sites not only allow girls to have a secret identity, but they also seem to promote this very, very unhealthy behavior. These girls should not feel like they are supported or that there are other girls who are doing well being like them. They should not look at success stories or “thinspiration” which has a positive light on a disease that is so traumatic.

ccallag · March 10, 2008 at 8:54 pm

These websites are so disturbing! Especially when one of them said “you don’t need food”. That is so crazy! I can personally relate to the struggle girls go through to be thin. I had a close friend who became anorexic at the age of 13. She came close to dying because she only weighed about 70 lbs. I remember visiting her in the hospital and seeing how hard it was for her. She was also on watch because she had begun cutting herself. I gave her a picture frame with a picture of the two of us in it and the nurses wouldn’t let her have it in the room because of the sharp edges. This experience was difficult for me to go through and I wasn’t even the one with the eating disorder! One of the main contributors to her disorder was magazine ads and the admiration of models by the media. There are so many ideals in the media that are not realistic! And it’s the young girls who are still getting comfortable with their bodies that are most susceptible to believing in the false images.I just hope in the future the world can wake up and see that every one is beautiful in their own way and the ideal is not to be 5’11” 90 lbs.

trubio · March 13, 2008 at 7:43 pm

I can’t stand looking at these photos and can’t bear the thought of these websites promoting eating disorders in any way, shape, or form. My best friend has struggled with an eating disorder for many years and it was very scary to see what her body went through. I currently work with teenagers and it is sad to see even very young teenagers worrying about their body to the point of starving themselves or vomiting up their meals. I agree that the media should begin to portray more realistic standards for women as there is too much pressure to be “perfect and beautiful”. The term beautiful has become so warped anymore, I think society has in some ways forgotten what it really means.

hvitullo · April 6, 2008 at 9:15 pm

I believe that it is really important for information to be available for people suffering from anorexia. But, these “pro-ana” websites are not the information that should be available. I suffered from anorexia for many years and I visited these websites more than once. If you are already overwhelmed by this disease, these websites offer actual tips on how to starve yourself, how to trick yourself into not feeling hungry, and sometimes even how to hide your disease from family and friends. These websites helped me conceal my illness from my family and friends for at least 6 months. I am much happier and healthier now, and this is all in my past however I would hate to see someone struggle with this disease for as long as i did. I think these websites are not even a little bit helpful and they are prolonging this disease for many young women and men.

msirna · January 26, 2009 at 9:44 pm

These websites are quite alarming. Some seem to offer good support for those recovering from anorexia and bulimia, yet most are very disturbing in the tips and tricks they present in how to keep up with anorexia. It is really sad of how difficult it is to censor these websites, because many will lead young teens into an unhealthy lifestyle.

kpeters · January 28, 2009 at 6:25 pm

These type of websites break my heart. I knew someone who was anorexic, and she would use these pro-ana websites for support. She would exchange phone numbers with other people on the sites, and they would keep each other accountable to how much they ate in a day. It was so sad to see how her life was affected by the website. Everything else in her life was put on the back burner, and she would spend all of her free time on these sites talking with her new “friends.” I do think that people with eating disorders definitely need support, but getting it from these sites where people encourage them to not eat and share tricks on how to starve themselves is just awful.

sammy · May 18, 2009 at 2:58 am

It’s all too easy for people to blame these sites jump to the conclusion that teenagers will be somehow influenced and people wil learn new ‘tricks’.
This is simply not true,i am 39 yrs old and have been an anoretic for much longer than the internet has been around, i was instinctively using the some of the ‘tricks’ that you see on the pro-ana sites even before i was a teen.
Yes some of those sites are ridiculous particularly the ones who have the silly ‘ana creeds’ and such.
But if you look at them closely you will find that they have absolutely no idea of what an ED really is, they just basically repeat what the ‘my life as an anorexic’ type articles by Victoria Beckham that they’ve read in some magazine! proclaim a lot of nonsense and act like it’s some glamourous ‘lifestyle’ .They soon get bored and disappear and hang out at mcdonalds with their school friends.
No-one with an ED that i’ve ever met has ever once called it glamourous or a lifestyle! or given ‘tips’ out.
Think back to when you were teens or even children, do you honestly believe that you could fast for 3 weeks, make yourself vomit, excercise until you all but collapse,exst on only 100 calores a day,put up with the lanugo (body/facial hair growth) and the many other things that people do simply because you read on the internet how wonderful it is to be thin and starve yourself? or would you be more likely to think urrgh thats gross i’ll never get a b/friend if i have hair on my face, breath smelling of vomit and have horrible thin brittle hair that falls out in lumps? could you really be swayed..if you could then you already had an ED.
pro-ana site members can recognise straight away the young girls who do not have any problems but are simply curious or want a quick way to get thin (because that’s all these ‘vulnerable people’ are looking for) and do not tolerate them and they are banned.
Do the people who wish to shut down pro-ana sites read the many posts which out number the ‘tips’ and picture posts (pictures from magazines that people can legally buy at the newsagents) that are full of anguish,pain, misery, shame and isolation asking for help and support because there is no-one else who they dare turn to until they are ready to seek recovery?
do they read the posts where people are advised and encouraged to seek recovery and suggestions are made on how to take the first step, gently inform parents partners etc? and the posts where people say goodbye because they are going for help, thank everyone for their kindness and support and then dont come back? I think maybe not.
People as with anything tend to see the ‘sensational’ side and focus on that.

sammy · May 18, 2009 at 3:09 am

im sorry this turned into such a long post but i wanted to point out the ‘good side’
Take away these sites (the genuine ones which stay up) and many people are isolated completely and have no-one who can understand the hell they go through and talk openly with.
ED’s are mental health disorders can you really copy a mental health dsorder and become anorexic? regardless how glamourous it may seem at frst glance?
Better stay away from sites for those with other mental health issues..gosh i wouldnt want to ‘catch’ or learn how to become schizophrenic! maybe sites such as self harm sites that are there to support those who self harm should be closed down too, after all as well as encouraging people to seek help they give ‘tips’ on how to cut safely keep wounds clean etc.
One very respected mental health forum even has a suicide board.For those vulnerable and impressonable (teenage emos perhaps?) is that a good idea!

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