A new study from the University of Cincinnati has taken a look at the darker side of social networking, peering into the murky world of Online Negative Enabling Support Groups (ONESGs).
Their particular focus was anorexia, a condition which, aside from being extremely debilitating, is characterised by its secrecy. For sufferers control over their food intake and body is essentially a private matter, something into which intervention is rarely welcomed.
Families and friends will therefore be disturbed to learn of ONESGs, a modern twist on the so-called ‘pro-ana’ movement. While pro-ana websites have existed for some time - in essence, websites which glorify anorexia - ONESGs gives scope for sufferers to connect easily and quickly. It is a phenomenon unique to the Facebook age.
The researchers looked at social networking sites, blogs, forums and public-access pro-ana sites between October 2006 and May 2007. They found evidence of a cohesive movement, guided by the tenet that anorexia is a lifestyle choice rather than an illness.
This message was communicated in a number of ways. As the authors of the study discovered, “embracing the ambivalence of self-loathing and self-encouragement is an important strategy because it illustrates the inner turmoil that resides within pro-anorexia participants”.
Members encourage one another to stay true to their anorexic creed (confessing any errant behaviours along the way), while promoting self-hatred and offering each other tips on being ‘better’ anorexics.
Perhaps most troublingly, with the potential for anonymity, there is potential for extreme views to be exchanged. This may accelerate the rate at which beliefs and behaviours become entrenched in vulnerable individuals and the pro-ana meme is spread.
As the authors of the study make clear, it will be increasingly important to understand the role of ONESGs as new forms of social media arise. “By gaining deeper insight,” they say, “we can potentially increase our efforts to help those whose online interactions revolve around ‘communicating thin’.”
Picture courtesy of Alistair Hart
Haas, S., Irr, M., Jennings, N., & Wagner, L. (2010). Communicating thin: A grounded model of Online Negative Enabling Support Groups in the pro-anorexia movement New Media & Society, 13 (1), 40-57 DOI: 10.1177/1461444810363910
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