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TikTok Bars #skinnytok Hashtag Globally After EU Scrutiny

TikTok now redirects #skinnytok searches to eating disorder support in response to EU safety demands

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Overview

  • TikTok globally blocked search results for #skinnytok on June 3 and redirects users to a page with eating disorder support links.
  • The #skinnytok hashtag had become a hub for videos glorifying extreme thinness and unsafe diet practices, mainly among young women.
  • EU regulators, backed by France’s digital minister Clara Chappaz, pressed TikTok through petitions and a Digital Services Act investigation into youth safety.
  • Observers warn that users can bypass the block by tweaking the hashtag, such as searching “skinnytok motivation,” which still yields harmful content.
  • Officials are now pushing for comprehensive solutions, including possible under-15 social media bans and greater media literacy and mental health resources.