MySpace hosts pro anorexia websites that are helping people starve themselves
It seems that everyone and their dog has a MySpace account these days, at least under the age of 25. The site has become a popular haven for those who like to engage with others on-line, exchang ideas, links, info and, dangerously, tips on how to starve yourself.
Pro anorexia sites, or pro-ana as they are called, have been a huge controversy over the last few years as more and more people struggle and die of eating disorders. Some say they should be banned, while others argue that you can’t ban people because of freedom of speech.
The groups and individuals responsible for pro-ana sites have found their way onto MySpace, a public domain where users create profiles of themselves. There are hundreds of profiles of people who have “thinspiration” photos up to encourage themselves and others to keep striving to lose more weight.
Their photo galleries and message boards are filled with photos of models that look deathly ill, as well as celebrities who have bones sticking out. They glamorize the disease and motivate each other to “keep strong.”
Most of the personal profiles are private and say that they will only add you as a “friend” if you have an eating disorder. This way, they can create their own communities on-line that foster their idea that being sick is okay. They like to call it a lifestyle choice.
The public and private groups of pro-ana or pro-mia profiles have things like “Thinspiration Pic of the Week,” “Tips and Tricks,” “Stats,” and other such topics. They’re mostly littered with pictures of celebrities and models they admire who are VERY thin.
The encouragement and tips the participators give each other makes my head spin. They are, in essence, teaching each other how to be the best at anorexia. They compare their weight, height and BMI; they abhor the word FAT and use it like a knife if they disagree with something someone has said.
The most dangerous thing about them is their allure for people who don’t have an eating disorder and are curious. Sites like these can easily distort a readers mind to start believing things that an anorexic does. With topics like, “How to Become Anorexic,” is it no wonder thousand of people are starving themselves all over the world.
For coverage on the ban of underweight models, click here.
