Friending Ana: Investigating the prominence and characteristics of pro-anorexia communities on social media

Physically attractive people in western cultures are perceived more positively in society, translating into tangible benefits for those considered to be attractive. For western women, part of being considered physically attractive is having a thin or slender body. Anorexia, a preoccupation with low weight via food restriction, has among the highest mortality rates of all psychiatric disorders. Despite this, a recent phenomenon called Pro-Anorexia, the advocacy of anorexic behaviour, has become increasingly popular online. Those who are a part of the pro-anorexia culture are likely to reject the classification of Anorexia as an illness and engage in anorexic behaviours as a lifestyle choice. In this research, the prominence and themes of Pro-Anorexic content were qualitatively investigated on three social media websites. Presence of the community was noted on all three websites; however, most content was removed during the observation. As long as the western beauty ideal emphasizes and rewards thinness, this community, which provides support and guidance in the pursuit of thinness, is likely to continue to exist in online spaces.