National Taskforce for Social Media, Body Image and Eating Disorders presents Government with urgent recommendations to make social media safer for all users

Acknowledging the Government’s introduction of a ban on social media for young people under 16, experts say more needs to be done.

• Exposure to appearance-based content on social media can lead to body dissatisfaction, disordered eating, eating disorders and poor mental health[i]
• Time spent on social media has a direct correlation to body dissatisfaction, desire for thinness/leanness, life disengagement, and desire for muscularity. [ii]
• Eating disorders in 10-19 year olds in Australia have risen by 86% since 2012[iii]. Butterfly National Helpline has seen a corresponding 275% surge in enquiries across all age groups in the same period.
• New research finds that the public strongly supports the removal of cyberbullying content on social media, with views that this is likely to have the most significant impact on body image issues, and be feasible to implement[iv]
• According to the report, 90% of people in Australia support the option to reset recommender algorithms; 86% support the removal of cyberbullying content, including appearance-based cyberbullying, and 85% support algorithm transparency and independent risk audits.
• The National Taskforce for Social Media, Body Image and Eating Disorders is today presenting its key 5 recommendations to Government and policymakers to make social media safer for young people’s body image.

Canberra, Australia: Zali Steggall OAM MP today hosted the Parliamentary Friends of Eating Disorder Awareness Group, along with her co-Chairs, Susan Templeman MP, and Andrew Wallace MP.

At the event, the National Taskforce for Social Media, Body Image and Eating Disorders presented urgent recommendations to tackle the effects of social media on the body image and mental health of young people in Australia. The Taskforce, comprised of eating disorder sector experts, national and state-based eating disorder organisations, and individuals with lived experience, delivered five key recommendations.

The recommendations included the removal of pro-eating disorder and cyberbullying content, algorithm transparency and risk audits, and user controls such as functions for users to reset their algorithm and/or shield their account from specific content. Dr Jasmine Fardouly, Sydney University also released new research showing the Australian public’s support for the recommendations

While there are many factors that contribute to the development of an eating disorder, body dissatisfaction is one of the highest modifiable risk factors. Research has established that the use of social media, particularly engaging with image-based content, can increase body dissatisfaction among young people.

Varsha Yajman, who has her own experience of living with an eating disorder and is a member of the Taskforce, said: “Social media had a huge impact in the development of my eating disorder. Even with the ban in place, the platforms, as well as content creators, still have a responsibility to make the digital world safer for all. You don’t suddenly become social media savvy the day you turn 16. These are some clear, actionable recommendations that might just prevent young people going through what I did.”

Dr. Hannah Jarman, Chair of the National Taskforce, said: “This is a hugely prevalent issue within today’s society. According to Butterfly’s recent report, almost 90% of young people in Australia worry about their body image, and it’s holding many back from learning, being active, and speaking up for themselves. The consequences can also extend to mental health, including the onset of eating disorders and depression. Social media is a big part of the problem—nearly half of young Australians aged 12-15 say it makes them feel dissatisfied with their bodies, and two-thirds of this age group report using social media ‘more than they would like’. Our Taskforce has brought together leading experts in social media, body image and eating disorders, and our recommendations are clear, easy to implement, and will have a significant impact in protecting the mental health of our young people.”

Ms Zali Steggall OAM, MP, one of the Co-Chairs of the Parliamentary Friends of Eating Disorders Awareness group said: “The Australian community is clear – we need reform and action beyond an age ban when it comes to social media and its impact on young people’s body image. We need to make social media platforms a safer place for all. I’m proud to be building on the critical work Zoe Daniel MP did in this space while in office, and am determined to keep the momentum going. I strongly urge the Government to listen to the voice of experts and lived experience to implement these recommendations.”

Ms Susan Templeman, MP, welcomed the work of the National Taskforce for Social Media, Body Image and Eating Disorders. “They bring academics, advocates and members with lived experience together to form a strong voice,” she said. “Parliamentary Friends of Eating Disorder Awareness is an important vehicle for continuing to raise awareness and discuss these issues and I’m proud to continue as co-Chair in the 48th Parliament.”

Mr Andrew Wallace, MP, also a Co-Chair for the Group, said: “According to the Butterfly Foundation, more than one million Australians are said to be affected by eating disorders, 63 per cent of whom are women and girls. Anorexia nervosa is the most commonly known eating disorder, and it is Australia’s deadliest and perhaps most misunderstood psychiatric illness.

“Eating disorders kill more Australians each year than those who are killed on our roads. Each year approximately 2000 Australians die due to medical complications arising from these insidious illnesses.

“The National Taskforce for Social Media, Body Image and Eating Disorders has delivered a clear warning, social media is taking a serious toll on the body image and mental health of young Australians. Their report serves as a salient message and warning to Big Tech that they must get their houses in order. The evidence is clear. Young people are being harmed by Big Tech and if they won’t clean up their act, Government must step in and do it for them,” he added.

For the full set of recommendations, please see here: https://butterfly.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Taskforce-full-report_FINAL.pdf

National Taskforce members

Dr Hannah Jarman, Deakin University (Chair)

Associate Professor Dr M Bromberg, The University of Western Australia

Varsha Yajman, Lived experience representative

Dr Jasmine Fardouly, University of Sydney

Dr Sarah Trobe, National Eating Disorders Collaboration

Dr Siân McLean, La Trobe University

Dr Jim Hungerford, Butterfly Foundation

Melissa Wilton, Butterfly Foundation

-ENDS-

Media Enquiries:

Zoe Bradbury, Butterfly Communications Manager

Ph:  0400 585 855

E: zoe.bradbury@butterfly.org.au

Media spokespeople

Taskforce

• Dr Hannah Jarman, Research Fellow, Deakin University
• Dr Jasmine Fardouly, DECRA Research Fellow & Sydney Horizon Fellow, Sydney University
• Varsha Yajman, Lived Experience representative
• Associate Professor Dr M Bromberg, Associate Deputy Head of Law School – Community and Engagement, The University of Western Australia

Government

• Ms Susan Templeman, MP for Macquarie, NSW, Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Eating Disorder Awareness Group
• Ms Zali Steggall AOM MP for Warringah, NSW, Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Eating Disorder Awareness Group and host of the Roundtable event
• Mr Andrew Wallace MP for Fisher, QLD, Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Eating Disorder Awareness Group

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.

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 support@butterfly.org.au
• Eating Disorders Victoria Helpline on 1300 550 23
• For urgent support call Lifeline 13 11 14

References

[i] Dane, A., & Bhatia, K. (2023). The social media diet: A scoping review to investigate the association between social media, body image and eating disorders amongst young people. PLOS Global Public Health, 3(3), e0001091. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0001091

[ii] BodyKind Youth Survey 2024, Butterfly Foundation, https://butterfly.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BKYS-2024-FINAL-REPORT.pdf

[iii] Paying the Price 2024, Deloitte

[iv] Fardouly et al