In early June 2025, TikTok officially banned the hashtag #SkinnyTok, a response to widespread concerns that it glorified extreme dieting, reinforced fatphobia, and harmed young users’ mental health. Now, when someone searches for the term, they’re redirected to mental health support resources instead of results.

This move came in response to pressure from European regulators, including France’s digital minister, who described the trend as “revolting and absolutely unacceptable.” It’s a recognition that SkinnyTok wasn’t just a hashtag—it was a part of a broader culture of disordered eating and body shaming.

However, experts caution that banning one hashtag is a first step, not a cure. The content often resurfaces under misspelled tags or coded language, and users remain at risk of encountering harmful videos elsewhere on the platform 

If you’ve ever scrolled TikTok, you might’ve stumbled into a harmful corner of the app known as SkinnyTok.

For some, it may seem like harmless content—fitness routines, aesthetically pleasing meals, and outfit inspiration. But for others, especially those living with eating disorders, body image challenges, or mental health conditions, SkinnyTok can feel like a dangerous rabbit hole. It’s not always about health—it’s often about obsession, comparison, and control.

Let’s take a deep, thoughtful look at what SkinnyTok is, how it shows up, and what it can do to our brains and bodies—especially if we’re already navigating tough stuff.

So… What Is SkinnyTok?

SkinnyTok isn’t an official category or TikTok feature. It’s a nickname for a sub-community of content that centers around thinness—sometimes in extreme or triggering ways. While TikTok’s algorithm doesn’t explicitly label content as such, users tend to end up in this space through videos tagged with terms like #Thinspo, #SizeZero, or content with underlying fatphobia.

It’s not always intentional—many people don’t seek out SkinnyTok. Instead, the algorithm learns what you pause on, what you like, or what you rewatch. If you engage with just one or two of these videos (even because you were watching accidentally or with concern), TikTok might start showing you more… and more… and more.

What Kind of Content Lives on SkinnyTok?

Some of the most common content you’ll find includes:

• “What I Eat In A Day” videos featuring extremely low-calorie meals

• Weight loss “routines” often focused on aesthetics over well-being

• Morning routines that subtly promote restriction or perfectionism

• Try-on hauls with a focus on small sizes or extreme weight loss journeys

• Romanticized visuals of thin bodies as “aspirational” or “motivational”

It’s not always labeled as “thinspo,” but it can still carry the same message: Thin = Better.

And that’s where the harm begins.

Why It Can Be So Harmful

For people who are vulnerable to disordered eating, anxiety, depression, or body dysmorphia, SkinnyTok can trigger obsessive thinking, shame, and unhealthy behaviors—often quietly, in the background.

Here’s why it can hurt:

• It normalizes disordered behavior. When someone eats a restrictive diet (not guided by a healthcare provider or for medical reasons) and gets praised in the comments, it starts to feel like that’s what “healthy” looks like.

• It creates silent comparison loops. Even if you know it’s not realistic, your brain may start whispering, “Why not me?”

• It often masks harm as “wellness.” SkinnyTok doesn’t always scream “eating disorder”—sometimes it’s dressed up as “clean” eating, discipline, or self-care.

• It reinforces fatphobia. Many videos send the message—whether overtly or subtly—that being thin is good and being fat is something to fear or fix. That messaging doesn’t just harm people in larger bodies—it shapes everyone’s sense of safety in their own skin.

Who Is Most Affected?

Anyone can be affected, but especially:

• People with a history of eating disorders or disordered eating habits

• People who are neurodivergent (like ADHD, OCD, or autism), who may be more prone to obsessional thinking or comparison loops

• People living with chronic illness or disabilities, who already feel alienated by unrealistic body standards

• Teens and young adults, who are especially vulnerable to algorithm-driven content and peer pressure

• People in larger bodies, who are often directly or indirectly shamed by SkinnyTok’s underlying fatphobic narrative

• People who are tired of being told their worth is measured by thinness—because fatphobia shows up in silence, in praise, and in exclusion

If that’s you—or someone you love—you’re not alone. You’re not “too sensitive.” You’re simply responding in a very human way to content designed to hold your attention and shape your behavior.

What You Can Do If You’re Stuck on SkinnyTok

If you’re starting to notice that this content is affecting your mood, your eating, or your thoughts about your body, here are some gentle steps you can take:

1. Tell the algorithm you’re not interested

• Tap the “Not Interested” option on triggering videos

• Try to avoid watching or pausing on harmful content—even for curiosity

• Clear your search history in the app settings if needed

2. Curate your feed with care

• Follow creators who promote body neutrality or mental health recovery

3. Get support

• Reach out to a therapist, dietitian, or a support group (many are available virtually).

• Tell a friend what you’re seeing—it can help break the shame spiral

• Consider using tools like screen time limits or blocking certain tags

You have every right to protect your peace.

A Note on “Recovery Content”

Even content that’s meant to be about recovery can sometimes be triggering—especially if it includes body checks, calorie talk, or “before and after” photos. Recovery isn’t linear, and it’s okay if you need a break from all food- or body-related content for a while.

You Deserve Better Than SkinnyTok

Your body is not a trend. Your health is not measured in views. And your worth has nothing to do with your clothing size.

SkinnyTok thrives in silence and secrecy—but the more we talk about it, the more power we take back.

And if you’ve felt erased, targeted, or shamed by SkinnyTok’s fatphobic undercurrent—know this: your body is not a problem to be fixed. It’s a life being lived. You deserve to take up space, both on your screen and in this world.

If you need help, consider reaching out to:

• NEDA (National Eating Disorders Association)

• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

• Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation