Butterfly welcomes multilayered recommendations in Joint Select Committee on Social Media and Australian Society report

Butterfly, the national charity supporting all people in Australia experiencing eating disorders and body image concerns, welcomes the Joint Select Committee on Social Media and Australian Society report and highlights the importance of implementing the whole of system recommendations, including better platform regulation and legislation and investment in digital media literacy, in addition to age assurance.  

Dr Jim Hungerford, Butterfly CEO, said, “After many years of advocating for improved social media protections for those experiencing and vulnerable to eating disorders and body image issues, we are pleased to see our multilayered recommendations considered in this report. However, we must caution government, platforms and media alike that increasing the age of access is not a magic cure for social media harms. We urge the government to follow through on this report’s whole of system recommendations, in particular, funding for critical education initiatives to empower people at risk of developing eating disorders and other mental health conditions to navigate social media safely.” 

Varsha Yajman, who has her own experience of an eating disorder and was a chair of the Social Media, Eating Disorder and Body Image working group, said: “Social media has been a double-edged sword, telling us we have found a ‘community’ when in reality much of it has detrimentally affected our mental health – our feed filled with weight loss stories, dieting advice or the next best supplement to take, and it’s all consuming. 

“To me and so many others, it is clear that social media negatively impacts perceptions of health and contributes to young people experiencing eating disorders – we feel there is no escape from this content. But a ban alone isn’t an evidence-based solution and I hope there is a real commitment to the holistic approach that young people and experts are advocating for, including media literacy training in the school curriculum and research on marginalised communities and the unique impacts they face.” 

Over the past year, Butterfly co-hosted Body Image and Social Media roundtables in Parliament House with Zoe Daniel MP and convened the Social Media, Eating Disorder and Body Image working group of eating disorder sector experts and individuals with lived experience, which developed 21 recommendations to improve protections. Butterfly also gave evidence at the Joint Select Committee on Social Media and Australian Society hearing. 

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Key stats:  

• Over 1.1 million Australians are living with an eating disorder.  

• More than half (56.5%) of young people in Australia age 12-18 reported being dissatisfied with how their body looks.1 

• Almost two third (61.7%) of young people in Australia age 12-18 said social media made them feel dissatisfied with their bodies2. 

• 8 in 10 young Australians aged 12-18 thought that social media platforms need to do more to help young people have a more positive body image.3 

 Media Contact 

Editor and producers note: Please include the following support line details in all media coverage of this story and refer to the Mindframe Media guidelines for safe reporting on eating disorders. Please include the following helpline message. 

Help and Support 

Anyone needing support with eating disorders or body image issues is encouraged to contact: 

• Butterfly National Helpline on 1800 33 4673 (1800 ED HOPE) or visit www.butterfly.org.au to chat online or email, 7 days a week, 8am-midnight (AEST/AEDT). 
• Eating Disorders Victoria Helpline on 1300 550 23 
• For urgent support call Lifeline 13 11 14 

About Butterfly 

Butterfly is the national charity for people in Australia impacted by eating disorders and body image issues, and for the families, friends and communities who support them. Butterfly changes lives by providing innovative, evidence-based support services, treatment and resources, prevention and early intervention programs, and by advocating for the needs of our community.