Objectives

This study aimed to assess the relationship between social media (SM) use and eating disorder (ED) risk in young people, identify mediating variables, and explore potential interventions.

Methods

The databases PubMed and PsycINFO were searched using 2 blocks in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The first block represented SM and the second represented ED. Boolean search commands were used to bring the blocks together. The review includes studies published from 2016 until Feb 2023. After duplicates were removed, a total of 389 records were screened, 306 were excluded based on title and abstract, and another 63 were...

Results

A total of 20 articles were included in the study. The cross-sectional studies (n = 12) comprised 11,015 participants and the longitudinal (n = 3) studies included 15,264 participants, while the experimental (n = 2) studies had 220 participants. Three interventional studies with 1123 participants, examined interventions to reduce the impact of SM on ED risk. The risk of bias assessments were based on different templates from the Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of...

Conclusions

Different types of SM use are linked to the risk of developing ED. Possible mediating variables include upward comparison, internalization of the thin ideal, and body surveillance. One potential intervention could be offering SM literacy classes.