Slavic doll trend: When beauty codes conceal the danger

Another dangerous trend has surfaced on TikTok, posing a potential threat to young people. Under the hashtag "slavic doll," videos showcase dramatically thin young women. This content appears to be an "inspiration" for individuals battling anorexia. On social media, content that overtly promotes eating disorders is banned and removed, leading to it often being disguised with various "codes" understood by those in the know.

Numerous videos tagged with the hashtag # katemoss suggest that " Slavic doll" is a code used by individuals deliberately starving themselves. This hashtag references the harmful words of English supermodel Kate Moss, who once stated, "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels." Some of the videos in the "Slavic doll" trend use a recording of this quote as an audio backdrop.

Anorexia is a condition with the highest mortality rate among all mental disorders. Its primary mechanisms are an overwhelming fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of one's body. Prolonged starvation causes damage to all major bodily systems, particularly the skeletal and reproductive systems. Besides severe malnutrition, the high mortality rate among individuals with anorexia is also attributed to suicides.

Researchers in the field agree that social media plays a significant role in developing and maintaining harmful eating habits. A recent article in the scientific journal Frontiers reported that cases of eating disorders have been on the rise since the pandemic. The article highlighted: "The improper use of social media platforms is likely a critical factor contributing to this phenomenon."

Anorexia most commonly begins to develop in early adolescence. The average age of onset for the first symptoms is 12 years. Social media can contribute to the development of the disorder in two ways. Firstly, similar to traditional media, showcasing a disproportionate number of very slim individuals creates unrealistic beauty standards. We recently wrote about how the TikTok algorithm promotes "beautiful people". Secondly, following others' accounts during an active phase of eating disorders can foster "inspiring" and "mutually supportive" relationships in starving each other. The "slavic doll" trend was created for this latter purpose.