Social media diet in adolescence: effects on mental health and eating behaviour

In the digital age, adolescents are constantly exposed to viral content promoting unrealistic beauty standards and unhealthy eating habits. This article examines the concept of the "social media diet" defined as the selective or excessive consumption of nutrition-related content, body image trends, and dietary fads on digital platforms [e.g., "What I Eat in a Day" videos, ”detox challenges”] and its bidirectional impact on teens’ mental and physical health. Through a systematic literature review of studies from psychology, nutrition, and digital media, we identify key mechanisms by which social media influences body perception, eating behaviours [e.g., orthorexia, binge eating], and self-esteem. The findings underscore the need for a multidisciplinary approach to foster healthier social media consumption among adolescents. The analysis reveals that adolescents, due to their developmental vulnerability and heightened sensitivity to peer comparison, are particularly susceptible to internalizing distorted ideals portrayed online. Exposure to idealized body types and restrictive eating patterns may lead to increased anxiety, body dissatisfaction, and the normalization of disordered eating behaviours. Simultaneously, the pursuit of social validation through likes and comments often reinforces harmful behaviours and perpetuates a cycle of comparison and self-criticism. Findings underscore the need for a multidisciplinary approach combining mental health support, media education, and nutritional consulting to foster healthier social media consumption among adolescents.