Belgian authorities have officially expressed concern about a dangerous new TikTok trend under the hashtag #SkinnyTok. The trend, which is rapidly gaining popularity among teenagers and young adults, promotes excessive thinness and can provoke the development of anorexia and other eating disorders.
Mental health experts and child psychologists warn that such content creates a distorted perception of the body in minors and can lead to serious consequences, both physical and mental. The Belgian Ministry of Health has already approached European regulators with a proposal to tighten control over TikTok algorithms that promote such videos.
What worries the Belgian authorities:
- The popularity of the hashtag #SkinnyTok, under which videos are published that idealize pathological thinness.
- Mass distribution of ” life hacks ” for quick weight loss among minors.
- TikTok algorithms that continue to promote similar videos after one or two views.
- An increase in the number of adolescents seeking help from psychologists with symptoms of eating disorders.
- Pressure on young users to conform to ‘perfect body’ images.
- Insufficient regulation of such topics on social networks.
TikTok must take responsibility for protecting vulnerable users and implement effective moderation mechanisms, the Health Ministry said. Belgian authorities have also launched an information campaign aimed at parents and teachers to identify risks early and talk to teenagers about mental health, adequate self-perception, and critical thinking about content.
What Belgian experts advise:
- Parents – pay attention to what their child watches on TikTok.
- Teachers should discuss with students the topics of body image and social media pressure.
- Young people need to filter information and understand that the “perfect” bodies on TikTok are often far from reality.
- TikTok – Implement algorithms that block harmful content based on disorder-related hashtags.
This is not the first time Belgium has raised the issue of social media’s influence on the psyche of young people. But now the government intends to act decisively and unite with other EU countries to put pressure on the platform.
