X, the new paradise for anorexia

With half the world debating whether Elon Musk is the real new U.S. president, time is running out to fully comprehend the impact of the transformation of the social network X into a global platform for the far-right and a so-called haven for free speech.

As journalists Kate Conger and Ryan Mac highlight in their book Character Limit: How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter (Penguin Press), one of Musk’s obsessions is turning X into a multipurpose, unrestricted, and universally-appealing platform — a money-making machine where users can buy advertising, trade cryptocurrencies, talk on the phone, make video calls, or watch a porn movie. A platform that connects users through shared ideologies, hobbies, or even obsessions, no matter how extreme or concerning. That’s the business model. And the wider the age spectrum of users, the higher the revenue. Ethical qualms be damned. If Musk can monetize the insecurities of teenage girls struggling with body image, he will, if it means he can target younger audiences typically drawn to networks like Instagram or TikTok. And that’s exactly what’s happening.

The journey into the depth of the community of young people using X to discuss topics like vomiting, Spartan diets, miracle pills, or self-harm requires a kind of guide. Certain keywords pave the way. It is a metalanguage that identifies posts, connects those with similar interests, and allows them to join a new digital community. In this case, the most common hashtag is #edtwt (eating disorders Twitter). This isn’t a recent development; other social networks, such as Pinterest, TikTok, and Instagram, have been grappling for years with how to manage and contain the flow of content under this same identifier, which brings together individuals with an unhealthy relationship with food.

“You are not alone. If you or someone you know is going through a difficult time, help is always available.” This is the response TikTok offers to any young person concerned about their weight who searches for the #edtwt tag on the platform. A similar approach is taken on Instagram, where users are given the option of phone assistance and immediate psychological support guidelines. In 2021, both platforms committed to restricting content related to eating disorders and providing support resources in its place. On X, however, the opposite is true. When Elon Musk acquired Twitter in 2022, he laid off more than half the staff, removed moderators, and lifted all content restrictions. Two years later, X has become the fastest path to the hell of anorexia — just type #edtwt and press enter.

“Stop eating, you fat piece of shit.” This statement of principles, made by @Cherry_baby888, heads a thread of tweets that includes photographs of young women in bikinis or underwear, where their extreme thinness is visibly marked by protruding bones.

“Friends, give me tips to vomit everything I eat, my family forces me to eat, and I don’t want to be a disgusting fat girl anymore,” writes @hiroshithe_best.

“I vomit by sticking my fingers in. But while I eat, I drink water so it’s easier for the food to come out, but also chew well so you don’t hurt your throat too much,” recommends @cherry_baby888.

“Thread about how I lost 16 kilos in two months,” shares @guadaniazz, who suggests one meal a day, drinking lots of water, and sleeping as much as possible to suppress hunger.

“Me after seeing myself in the mirror,” posts @bl4cksl1me_, along with an image of a noose.

“I can’t stop eating like a fucking disgusting pig,” laments @edwittero.

@rennnxxxww shares a drawing of a young woman caught in an internal dialogue: “I’m not hungry. Lie, I’m starving.” “But the abs won’t happen on their own,” replies @bri_spici.

The conversations surrounding food and weight loss on X are full of anguish, with many young people expressing self-hate and sharing disturbing images of self-harm. “Did some cuts before school,” admits @sayayum_. “I miss when I could cut my arms without the risk of ending up hospitalized,” recalls @val_venuux, posting a photo of her arm covered in scars.

The conversation about food and weight loss that young people discuss on X is full of references to their anguish at living in a body they hate, a rejection that, in some cases, they express with photographs of self-harm. “I cut myself before going to school,” admits @sayayum_. “I miss when I could cut my arms without the risk of ending up hospitalized,” posts @val_venuux, who accompanies her tweet with a photo of an arm covered in numerous wounds.

If one of Elon Musk’s goals was to rejuvenate the community of X users, he has certainly succeeded — without censorship or any moral scruples. Today, X holds the monopoly on the unfiltered exchange of advice on vomiting, photos of emaciated bodies, diet pills, and the glorification of self-harm. According to data from the analysis tool Talwalker, nearly 60% of X users following posts with the #edtwt tag are under 26 years old, with the majority being women. National and European health regulations now face a significant challenge: how to put a stop to the all-powerful Musk and protect one of the most vulnerable groups in society.