What is #SkinnyTok and why was it banned on TikTok?

TikTok has removed the #SkinnyTok hashtag globally after it faced intense scrutiny for promoting extreme and unhealthy weight-loss content. The move comes after European regulators and French officials raised alarms about the trend's negative impact on young users' mental health.

A TikTok spokesperson, Paolo Ganino, confirmed the action, stating: “[We] have blocked search results for #skinnytok since it has become linked to unhealthy weight loss content.” He added this decision was part of “a regular review” of safety measures to respond to emerging risks.

Now, users who search for #skinnytok on TikTok are redirected to mental health support resources rather than the harmful videos previously associated with the hashtag.

Why #SkinnyTok was problematic

The #SkinnyTok hashtag had over half a million posts. Many videos featured emaciated young women endorsing extreme diets and unhealthy weight-loss tips. Some content included guilt-inducing messages like “you aren’t ugly, you are just fat,” which reinforced toxic body images.

This trend alarmed health professionals and governments alike. Paris-based nutritionist Lea Tourain said, “I think it's really dangerous, and it scares me because it's becoming more and more fashionable... young girls... ask me how to achieve the same body. It's very worrying.”

Similarly, Ella Marouani, a 22-year-old nursing student recovering from an eating disorder, spoke about the frustration she felt when TikTok dismissed her reports of harmful videos. “I made several reports to TikTok about videos that were problematic and each time I was told that the rules of the community had not been violated,” she told Euronews. She added, “I came across a few #SkinnyTok videos in my algorithm and they made me deeply angry... I am deeply angry for the young people who come across this content.”

French government hails the ban as a ‘collective victory’

France’s Digital Minister Clara Chappaz praised the removal as a “collective victory” after nearly two months of campaigning, which included a public petition and direct talks with TikTok executives in Dublin. She said, “The fight to protect our children online doesn't stop there. I won't give up. Banning social media before 15 is my priority.”

This action has strengthened calls in Brussels for tighter rules on children’s use of social media. Politicians across the European Union are citing the #SkinnyTok case to push for stronger content moderation under the Digital Services Act (DSA).

EU steps up pressure on TikTok

The issue was a key point during a recent call between EU Consumer Protection Commissioner Michael McGrath and TikTok CEO Shou Chew. McGrath said, “This is a live investigation which will take its course in the normal way, but I felt it was important to reiterate the Commission’s strong stance on child protection.”

The EU has been investigating TikTok’s algorithms since February 2024 under the DSA. These rules aim to hold platforms accountable for the content they promote and to protect users, especially minors, from harm.

Ongoing challenges and calls for stronger enforcement

Despite TikTok’s assurances that it enforces “strict rules against body shaming and dangerous behaviour related to weight loss,” critics argue enforcement is slow and insufficient. French Socialist MP Arthur Delaporte, who leads a parliamentary commission on harmful social media content, said: “We need to stop the digital giants from setting up dangerous and flawed algorithms that ultimately aggravate mental disorders.”

Delaporte urged a coordinated European response with tougher penalties: “We do need to impose sanctions at European level, sanctions at an international level, fines if need be… at some point we need to bang our fists on the table and consider even banning the platform.”

Other European countries have acted similarly. Belgium’s Digital Minister Vanessa Matz filed a formal complaint against TikTok, referring the matter to the European Commission. Meanwhile, Switzerland is considering age restrictions to regulate the platform more strictly.

This patchwork of national responses highlights growing frustration with the EU’s enforcement pace and effectiveness. The Commission’s limited role in the recent ban has raised questions about its ability to enforce its own rules.

TikTok’s move follows earlier actions in 2024, such as suspending the TikTok Lite reward programme, which incentivised screen time, amid concerns over its mental health impact.

Health experts continue to warn that dangerous content may simply reappear under new hashtags or misspellings. Charlyne Buiges, a nurse specialising in eating disorders who initiated the petition, said the ban was a significant win: “It's a great victory, I was very happy… Once I saw the hashtag was banned, I told myself I didn't do all this for nothing.”

However, the fight to shield children from harmful online influences is far from over. As social media evolves, so must the vigilance of regulators, platforms, and users alike.