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Jennifer Santiago Dr. Archibald Informative Essay 28 October 2008 The Social Media is Promoting Eating Disorders  In today's world search engines such as: Google and Yahoo are widely used to find information for just about any topic. One of the most popular searches has been affecting teen girls world wide. This search is based on social sites that promote eating disorders such as: bulimia and anorexia. Blogs, web sites and Myspace groups are focusing on pro-ana and thinspiration calling them support groups, but some people might view these websites as the opposite. Many teenage girls are visiting these sites and getting advice on how to hide this disorder from families and friends. The websites even offer their viewers photos of high end models and actresses that use this form of weight loss to their advantage. Other people might think these websites are beneficial to teen girls, and they are used as support groups. In this paper I will focus on the websites that are associated promoting eating disorders.  As parents it is scary to know that by just one click of a mouse children can be influenced by sites that promote eating disorders. “Five to ten million people have an eating disorder nation wide; that includes eleven percent of high school students and up to nineteen percent of college students. Eighteen to twenty percent of people with anorexia will die within twenty years of diagnosis” (Morton). This is an issue that has been spoken about worldwide. Instead of sites trying to stop this issue there are sites focused on promoting the issue. On Youtube I found a video titled, [|“Don't' Die for a Diet,”] and though the author is against pro-ana websites she is listing the actions that are done by people that suffer from anorexia. Her advice includes: telling your parents your eating at a friends house and instead take a walk; take cold showers to make your metabolism work harder; punch yourself in the stomach when you want to eat, and worst of all do aerobics until you pass out (NaraChurch). Towards the end of the video she states that this is what is found on pro-ana websites, and she gives her viewers a website that is against eating disorders. Another key word that is used for these pro ana sites are called "thinspiration." Young girls are using this word to spread the beauty of being thin. If a person enters the word pro-thinspiration, you will come across some Myspace pages that are devoted to telling young girls that they can never be too thin. "The thought of this happening can be dangerous when placed before the eyes of vulnerable young girls and women. A girl who is having problems with her weight will more than likely have unhealthy thoughts when exposed to these Myspace groups" (A. Nicole).  A still that I will use is a Myspace page titled [|Thinspiration] it is of a 19 year old girl from France that believes thin is beauty. There are three points that are important on her page: 1. The general information section 2. Her quote 3. Her thoughts on the normalcy of being extremely thin  The first point is the general section where she gives the "Ana Commandments,” for example the first commandment is "If you aren't thin you aren't attractive;" or the third commandment, "You must buy clothes, style your hair, take laxatives, starve yourself, do anything to make yourself look thinner." These commandments are found on every pro-ana page. This page is something that is easily obtainable, and it is used to lure young girls into believing that this is the only way you can be beautiful. The second point are the quotes that she uses, "Thin is in!" and "Stay strong,” most of these people believe that if a person can starve themselves they have more willpower than the average person. She uses a famous person by the name of Nicole Richie who has suffered from this disease, only considering her as beautiful when she was extremely thin. The third point is her thoughts above her quotes that consider having this disease as normal. She states that, "no one can be too thin," she even puts down teen girls who are considered fat telling them that the only way they can win the site model competition is if they are thin. According to social comparison theory people evaluate themselves through comparisons with others" (Jung & Peterson 43). When teen girls view these websites such as the thinspiration web page they are influenced by comparing their body types with extremely skinny models and actresses that are used to decorate their pages.   Myspace and Youtube aren't the only social sites that focus on thinspiration and pro-ana. Put in these phrases in a search engine and 100 Google pages of blogs and sites in different countries and languages appear.     The largest website dealing with this topic is called [|Live Journal Pro anorexia] this site deals with everything concerning pro-ana. Thousands of girls belong to this site from all different cultures and countries, one thing they all have in common is that they all strive to be extremely thin. These teen girls believe that everyone should fast for a certain period of time in order to maintain a healthy weight. Many people may argue that this site is promoting anorexia; while others might view this site as a support group. The first reaction a person might receive is shock from the content of this website. For example one of the members by the name of XOX_Beth wrote in one of her post, "pins and needles, god d*** it I need to exercise for 3 hours now before I can let myself sleep, and I have lots of college work to do, life is s***, and I just want to f*** starve. I don't deserve to enjoy anything, I don't deserve to live. I am a pathetic, fat, waste of space." Her responses to her post were mostly words of inspiration, and assuring her that eating something healthy is fine. Some people might change their views on this site and start viewing this website as a support group. The members of this group rely on each other for guidance; some of the member's post are graphic and speak of suicidal thoughts. This post was written by Reversed_Puberty, “I'm home alone and I keep thinking about my mom coming home to find me overdosed in my bedroom and I would be so free from my world of obesity and constant struggle just to look confident when I go to school even though it's all a lie and I don't know why I'm pretending anymore I have no friends and I feel so alone I'm so f** alone.” Reversed_Puberty received positive and inspiring messages from all the other members. These members consider themselves friends to each other; they share a disease that they only understand. This site allows their members to share their feelings with the public and also maintain some form of secrecy. If a member writes something they do not want others to see they can hide their words. The words that are hidden are usually dealing with food.  There is also another site that is devoted to pro-ana it is called House of Thin. There are many rumors or myths that are found on many different pages. House of Thin <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif">lists the different myths and facts about pro-ana, There is a common misconception that pro-ana means pro anorexia, but it does not, it means Anamadin. Anamadin is a ritual that is very dangerous, and is sometimes considered a form of a cult (House of Thin). Another common misconception is pro-ana encourages teens to stay anorexic, but according to the site it is supposed to be used as a form of therapy once a person sees where their deeply-rooted problem is they can change this problem, which will result in the ending of anorexia (House of Thin). <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif"> In conclusion, there are many sites that promote this horrible disease. Pro-ana and pro-thinspiration are all words that can change a person's life. Some people feel like these websites are luring teenage girls into hating their body, hating their looks, and hating their personalities. And other people view these websites as support groups, which help them in their struggles to cope with anorexia until their inner-self problems are solved. There are many reasons why people join these sites and why they even exist. One reason might be friendship, and another reason might be to receive support for the disease. Another reason might be to bash the website or becoming a member in order to give advice. The reality is that these web sites exist, and though some people might want to stop these sites; other people need these sites to feel safe and stay alive.