# Social media trends promoting extreme thinness

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/social-media-trends-promoting-extreme-thinness
> Updated: 2026-10-12T08:15:00.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2.

Social media platforms are experiencing a resurgence of beauty standards centered on extreme thinness, often referred to as ‘Skinny Chic’. This shift marks a departure from the body positivity movement that gained prominence around 2010.

Critics and health experts have raised alarms regarding new online sub-communities, such as ‘Skinny Tok’, which promote emaciated aesthetics. Canadian dietitian Abbey Sharp has specifically condemned content that idealizes a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 15, characterizing such messaging as a “deliberate attempt to cause harm.”

Observers note that this trend mirrors the ‘heroin chic’ era of the early 2000s. The viral popularity of the weight-loss drug Ozempic is cited as a significant driver of this cultural shift, as influencers and celebrities use the medication to achieve rapid weight loss, further fueling the narrative of extreme thinness.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-12: Social media trends see resurgence of ‘Skinny Chic’ beauty standards

Social media is seeing a revival of ‘Skinny Chic’ beauty standards and emaciated aesthetics, driven by trends on TikTok and the viral use of Ozempic for weight loss.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/social-media-trends-see-resurgence-of-skinny-chic-beauty-standards

### 2026-10-02: Abbey Sharp criticizes social media trends idealizing extreme thinness

Dietitian Abbey Sharp criticizes social media trends that idealize extreme thinness and low BMI levels, warning of the severe health risks associated with being underweight.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/abbey-sharp-criticizes-social-media-trends-idealizing-extreme-thinness

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Cite as: Social media trends promoting extreme thinness. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/social-media-trends-promoting-extreme-thinness