Redeem now Although photo sharing sites like Pinterest provided an ideal medium for the dark practice of "thinspo" or "thinspiration"—in which people post photos of themselves/models/actors with jutting collarbones and exposed rib cages to inspire others to become unhealthily thin—the social media sites are now taking a stand.
In May, when Business Insider explored the world of thinspo on Pinterest, this is what happened when one searched for "thinspo" on the site:
Pinterest later announced that it would prohibit pins that encouraged self-abuse, which includes pro-anorexia or bulimia posts, but it was unclear how that would be achieved on the site.
Now a public health announcement appears on the screen whenever anyone searches for "thinspo" on Pinterest:
A similar message appears when searching for "thinspiration":
Although some pictures slip by—and users will surely find new tags or ways around the ban—this is certainly better than what was coming up only two months ago.
Click here to take a look inside the frightening cult of "thinspo">
If you or someone you know has an eating disorder, call the National Eating Disorders Association Helpline (1-800-931-2237) on weekdays for support, resources, and information about treatment options. In crisis situations, NEDA offers 24/7 support — just text "NEDA" to 741741.
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