TikTok has stopped users from searching for the hashtag “skinnytok,” which critics say promotes the idolization of extreme thinness.
Content tagged with #skinnytok often includes videos showcasing people’s exercise routines or their daily meals.
The platform announced it has limited access to #skinnytok because the hashtag became linked to dangerous weight loss content.
Now, when users try to search for “skinnytok,” they are redirected to mental health support resources instead.
Tom Quinn, representing the eating disorder charity Beat, welcomed TikTok’s decision, highlighting that content like “skinnytok” can have harmful effects on vulnerable individuals struggling with body image. However, he noted that more efforts are needed.
“People frequently find ways to bypass content restrictions, and damaging posts may still appear under other hashtags. It’s crucial for TikTok and other social media platforms to address this issue comprehensively,” he told BBC News.
What is ‘Skinnytok’?
The hashtag #skinnytok has been used in over half a million posts, according to the US-based National Alliance for Eating Disorders. While some posts appear to share healthy lifestyle advice, such as low-calorie recipes, experts warn that the hashtag often masks a promotion of unhealthy thinness.
The organization says the content tends to glamorize weight loss while stigmatizing weight gain, encouraging disordered eating habits.
This trend has sparked particular concern in countries like France, where professionals warn that social media can contribute to the development of eating disorders among young people.
Nutritionist Carole Copti told AFP that “young patients are deeply influenced by the content they consume daily on TikTok, making it difficult for weekly therapy sessions to counteract that.”
French digital authorities praised TikTok’s action, with a government minister declaring on social media that “skinnytok is over,” crediting advocacy from European lawmakers.
TikTok stated that it regularly updates its safety protocols to manage new risks, explaining, “We continue to restrict what teens can access and provide verified health information through TikTok’s search features.”
This is not TikTok’s first effort to address body image issues. Earlier this year, the platform removed “chubby filters,” a viral effect that altered users’ appearances to make them look heavier.
