Pinterest has banned any ads with “weight loss language and imagery”, saying that they’re “body shaming” and instead wants to promote “body neutrality”.
Losing weight is not inherently dangerous. I wish people (and companies) would stop treating it as such. There is a right, healthy way to lose weight, and people that want to better themselves shouldn’t have to feel ashamed of that.
I used to go on Pinterest ALL the time for weight loss motivation. It’s really too bad.
What makes Pinterest's policy really cool is that you can still post about the many different elements of an active, healthy lifestyle. Share exercises! Explore new recipes! Post workout outfits! Talk about your recent success in life!
The only thing being restricted is tying that information back to the glorification of weight loss itself.
If this is really an issue, then it's worth asking yourself - Why do I need weight loss in order to legitimize all these other accomplishments?
-> Is my balanced diet only worthwhile if it makes me lose a few pounds?
-> Is my exercise only interesting if I weigh less next month?
-> Do I only care about these stories and blogs if the author is getting thinner?
Because all of these things have value for their own sake. If we can only find interest in them through the lens of weight loss - Then policy changes like this are all the more necessary.
Pinterest worked directly with the National Eating Disorders Association as a way of prioritizing "the mental health and well-being of Pinners, especially those impacted by diet culture, body shaming, and eating disorders." If it is helping people identify that their relationship with food and exercise is not as balanced or healthy as they previously thought, then that's a win.
Not saying that any of the above is a bad thing per se, but, has anyone else noticed how high on the list of censorship proana stuff is? Like, before domestic terrorism encouragement and a bunch of other stuff (sex work, guns, blasphemy, racism, misinformation, dangerous DIY guides, pro-crime stuff for shoplifting to rioting to assault to selling illegal drugs) that's generally prioritized higher on paper by literally everyone?
Like, proana got shut down online along with bomb building instructions as the absolute first thing suppressed online.
The funny thing is I’ve suddenly been seeing classic thinspo (as “waifspo”) for the first time in decades recently