Why my phone wants me to stop eating

This piece talks about eating disorders and related topics. The National Alliance for Eating Disorders Helpline provides support, resources and information about treatment options at 1-866-662-1235. You can also text “ALLIANCE” to 741741 to be contacted by a trained volunteer.

Even before Donald Trump was re-elected president in November, mainstream culture had already swung back to conservatism. There were signs everywhere if you knew what to look for: Viral content making fun of women like Amber Heard. Wellness influencers touting vaccine disinformation. Pop stars going country.

And there was another sign of rising authoritarianism in the culture, one that facilitated strict obedience in the mind and body. Content glorifying thinness and urging people to lose weight has become inescapable on social media, a relentless drumbeat of conformity to sickness disguised as health.

Over the past year, I’ve tracked the rise of pro-eating disorder content from the dark corners of social media to the very top of algorithm-driven feeds. Posts from women and girls who are starving mixed in with posts from women who are telling you it’s a must to starve yourself this summer. They don’t use that word, starve, they just say skinny like it’s a gift from God and fat like it’s a slap in the face.

Subscribe to Spitfire News to read the rest.