Even though this article entitled “Seeking Thinspiration” was written a year ago, it is interesting to observe the changes that have occurred due to spotlighting eating disorders on the internet. The internet is a place where everyone can go and be anyone they want without question or persecution. This article written by the BBC focuses on the changes in pro-Ana and pro-bulimia websites.Previously, websites about eating disorders were private and somewhat embarrassing. Those who searched through them were typically alone and conducted all conversation anonymously. As mentioned in ‘The Ana Sanctuary…’ there are usually disclaimers and explanations as to what you are about to enter.
Welcome to this Pro-Ana (Mia) Support Group. We are about encouragement,
support, and assistance, to others like us who live with an ED and suffer with
the problems that go along with it…This site does not encourage that you develop
an eating disorder. This is a site for those who ALREADY have an eating disorder
and do not wish to go into recovery. Some material in here
may be triggering. If you do not already have an eating disorder, better it is that you
do not develop one now. You SHOULD leave. -Anonymous, Pro-Anorexia
Site (Dias, 4-5)
Viewers of these sites find places like these to be safe and one of the few areas where they are in complete control of the public. I imagine that most people envision an emaciated girl, sitting alone in her room, envying picture of others, and exchanging tips. This is drastically changing though.
As the BBC article points out, this trend seems to be changing. The once anonymous online world of pro-Ana websites has now made its presence known on social networking sites. The interesting twist on this trend is that on sites like Facebook or MySpace, people tend to post pictures of themselves and their names visible. (Seeking Thinspiration) Not only are people with eating disorders showing their faces, they are giving their names. Social sites like these also allow your friends to know everything about you, eating disorders included. Within sites of this nature lies the ability to create common interest communities or groups with people worldwide. The problem is that the loss of this anonymity is in a sense glamorizing the disorders these people are suffering from.
The article entitled, “Seeking Thinspiration” was written in 2007 and most of the groups has since been removed. For as many pro-ED groups as there were, there were twice as many anti-ana/bulimia groups. One group, Get Thin or Die Trying, a play on 50 cent’s song, was disbanded, but if you search hard enough you can find it secretly embedded in another group. The group has since changed its name to Stop Thinscrimination! (Revival of GTODT) and Don’t Discriminate Against Thin People. Both groups claim to be support groups for people suffering from disordered eating, however the posts are reminiscent of conversations on the Smoking Porch in Thin or the website described in the Dias article.. As recently as the past week, Facebook administrators have disabled the discussion board on this group deeming it to be “harmful content” This removal led to the creation of an exterior site. (http://www.phpbbplanet.com/gtodt/)
(Image from Facebook Group Stop Thinscrimnation!)
The article makes two points, the first argues that groups about eating disorders on social networking sites more harmful than supportive. Affirming this argument is a twenty-one year old Andrea from Missouri, who has suffered from anorexia for five years, been hospitalized fifteen times and has had six feeding tubes. She says that "When you are actively in your eating disorder, you desperately want someone to understand, and a lot of time you find groups like the pro groups on Facebook that are supportive of you continuing your eating disorder." (Seeking Thinspiration) Andrea goes on to say that, "When you are in the middle of it and don't want to give it up, you cling to these sites that tell you what you are doing is OK. Recovery is hard, staying sick isn't, so it's easier to hide behind these sites claiming that you are making a lifestyle choice, rather than admitting that you are sick and trying to get better." (Seeking Thinspiration)On the other hand, they also acknowledge the fact that sites like these make it possible so those struggling with eating disorders are never alone. Some believe that online communities can bring people out of isolation, which is beneficial to the healing process.
I guess that I can understand the camaraderie and comfort of knowing there are others with the same issues out there. My main problem is with the word support. Support according to people with eating disorders does not seem to hold the positive connotation that it typically holds. Support seems to be tips, advice, and other information that hinders someone from getting better. In the Dias article, the support came in the form of “how to” sections and “thinspirations’” which are images for which these girls aspire. (Dias, 5) The most disturbing thinspiration appeared on a random Eating disorder blog. It was a picture of Terry Schaivo, a severely brain-damaged woman who spent 20 some years in a vegetative state, eventually resulting in her husband legally removing her feeding tube and her death. (Mamavision.com)
As the BBC article mentioned, a point with which I whole-heartedly agree, is the most disturbing part of the appearance of pro-Ana/bulimia groups on sites like Facebook is the glamorization. Eating disorders are usually about guilt, emptiness, depression, or a lack of control, but these sites make it seem as if the member are doing it to be trendy. In ‘Thin’ I thought Brittany had an eating disorder mostly for the attention. She did not want to get better because being the victim or being sick was where she found her niche. It is just difficult to imagine that there is no shame in suffering from a disorder like anorexia. Alcoholics and drug users are not proud of their addictions, but this new generation of online ED communities are embracing their disorders.
In slightly more one year after this article was written, it is interesting to observe the displeasure elicited from other non-ED members on social networking sites in response to disordered eating groups. Part of me feels for them, because an anorexic person may not like guns or may be offended by the all the drunk girl groups but does not demand that they are taken down. Both guns and girls being irresponsible and posting pictures could be deemed as harmful content, but those groups remain untouched. Denying somebody the right to express their viewpoints or opinions is criminal, but it becomes hard to sit back and watch (literally) young people kill themselves. It will be interesting to see what happens in another year as far as group regulation on MySpace and Facebook
Links: “Seeking Thinspiration” http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/6935768.stm
Facebook Group ‘Don’t Discriminate Against Thin People” http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=25944822115&refurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fs.php%3Fq%3Dget%2Bthin%2Bor%2Bdie%2Btrying%26n%3D-1%26k%3D200000010%26sf%3Dr%26init%3Dq
Facebook Group ‘Stop Thinscrimination’ http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=21102616111
Dias’, Karen. “The Pro-Ana Sanctuary: Women’s Anorexia Narratives in Cyberspace” The Journal of International Womens Studies. Vol 4 no 2. April 2003. https://carmen.osu.edu/
Image of Terry Schaivo: http://mamavision.com/2007/09/24/italy-aint-messin-around/
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