Eating disorders can be a sensitive topic for some, but most tend to avoid sensitivity and ask the question, "How are these illnesses caused?" A prolific number of people come back with a widely held idea that it is society that pushes young women to starve and develop eating disorders. These disorders have been around for some time, whether many are aware of them or not. Throughout the ages, many women have been pressured to look a certain way. However, thanks to the Internet and cell phones, the consumed image of women has spread around the world since the late 1990s. Eating disorders, such as anorexia, are caused by social media and societal pressures that create poor self-images among young women. This study will prove these ideas about social media and eating disorders are true, along with the how and why. I will examine the importance of the Internet and the influence that magazines and society can have on young girls. Striving to appear thin, many go too far and end up developing eating disorders. Finally, these diseases do not only occur in the United States. Societal pressures extend all over the world and as a result, eating disorders are also present. The Internet plays a key role in the lives of young people. Many people are surprised by the number of teenagers and young adults who use the Internet. Amanda Lenhart and her associates state in the article "Social Media and Young Adults" that 93% of adolescents aged 14 to 17 and young adults aged 18 to 29 use the Internet (10). The graph on page 11 shows the change in the number of teenagers using the Internet between 2000 and 2009. A number of teenagers also own cell phones. The graph displays...... middle of paper ......y. “Body image and the media: an overview. » Points of view: Body image and media 2013: p1-1. 1p. Reference center for viewpoints. EBSCO. Internet. February 12, 2014. Lenhart, Amanda et al. “Social Media and Young Adults.” Pew Internet and American LifeProject 3 (2010). Internet. March 3, 2014. Mankiller, Wilma and others. “Eating Disorders”. The Reader's Companion to American Women's History. December 1, 1998: researcher on np SIRS issues. Internet. March 3, 2014.Marquand, Sarrah Le. “Fighting the body image war.” Daily Telegraph (Surry Hills). April 13. 2013: 45. SIRS Researcher. Internet. February 14, 2014. Salter, Jim. “Social Media Fuels a Dangerous Weight Loss Goal.” Independence Examiner.October 4, 2013: np SIRS Issues Researcher. Internet. March 1, 2014. “Eating disorders among young girls are on the rise. » Daily Star (Beirut, Lebanon). June 1. 2013: researcher on np SIRS issues. Internet. March 3. 2014.