The Body Positivity Movement Is Dying, and Ozempic, Gen Z and the Y2K Comeback Are to Blame.

[@_salemtovar_]

Howdy my fellow neighbors! 🤠Sorry about not uploading yesterday- my file took all night to process since I play roblox in this video while yapping, and it was lowkey a large file lol 💕but I hope you all enjoy it! It was a lot of hard work but very fun to make. Remember to keep the comments cute & demure, even if you disagree! Make sure to follow me on instagram @_salemtovar_ to keep updated on whenever I ask my audience what they want me to talk about in upcoming videos! 💕 Also at the end of this video I share some drawings of mine- and I would love to know if you guys would be open to me making merch- that's actually an interactive / coloring book y'all can use while you relax or use while you watch my vids! I think it would be super cool and I would love to repost your colorings on my instagram once it's all said and done! I hope you all have a good rest of your week and I'll see you again this sunday with a new one! :)

[@GoldenWreck]

Girl your art is so gorgeous! Would definitely love to see more of it!

[@kellynovinski]

yes! give us an activity book 🙏🏻

[@mangomargarita285]

Salem, could you please talk about Seunghan? In short, he is a former member of the kpop group Riize that was unfairly put on a 10 month hiatus bc he dated pre debut and smoked a cigarette. He was announced to be returning to the group on Friday and faced INTENSE amounts of bullying (including death threats) from korean "fans". This lead to him leaving the group just yesterday. 😢 pleasessssseeeee

[@Elia-DCrea]

coloring book is a good idea. Not a lot of youtubers can do one with their own drawings

[@TheHyyerrr]

@_salemtovar_ on the SouthPark part of your video, the drug is actually Ozempic, the Lizzo drug is "more affordable" body positivity.

[@antonSugar]

My mom was right. It was that damn phone.

[@monbub]

lets be real they always were right, from the start. limit internet use people! I miss when my internet use was only for dress up flash games and mmos like club penguin...

[@pleasestopscreaming]

​@@monbub if we had to go back to paying for internet minutes, it would be over for ALL of us.

[@Lets_have_some_sense_]

Yes, as chronically online in recover, I stand with her.

[@chelseaclinton5993]

​@@monbub no they weren't completely right. Because these companies and apps are never held accountable as well. They also responsible for lack of regulation of their apps. They purposefully let algorithms, harmful products or adds that could potentially promote EDs or body dysmorphia ran rampant just because it makes them money. Matter of fact, we should also blame the parents for giving the phones and not monitoring or doing anything about it. Like if the phones are the danger why give it to me in the first place??

[@LuluTheCorgi]

My grandma lives in depression because she refuses to get a senior phone to be able to call her friends ​@@monbub

[@ilikecatzz]

Honestly when I started hearing the "big back" joke get popular, I knew where we were going.

[@cupid3890]

LOL

[@greenthinggg]

Yup going backwards

[@deepstblu3]

Same, this is all disappointing

[@Sadib230]

Omg same! Like even when I hear it now I’m like this sounds so off!

[@Sadib230]

And the way people just proudly say “big back” because they’re enjoying food is like so disgusting to me

[@Matty002]

1.delete tiktok 2.body acceptance, not body positivity 3. DELETE TIKTOK

[@empressofsaturn]

Honestly, when I deleted the tiktok app only good things happened!

[@artosbear]

People don't realise tiktok has people cooperatively reconstructing their indigenous languages and cultural practices and preserving their cultures against capitalist destruction somehow ironically, and sharing incredibly difficult to access knowledge for cultivating food without having to destroy the earth, like so many things. Why would I give that up

[@LedyE]

You forgot step 4: DELETE TIKTOK!!!!

[@justkiddin84]

@@artosbearFirst: I love your skink and skink video! Second: There is always good with the bad. You are right, if there is a baby, hold onto it and throw out the dirty bath water. The problem is the dirty bath water on Tik Tok. Like those horrible ‘battles’. And a lot of misinformation and just trash. Perhaps, Indigenous folks should think about an indigenous platform for this purpose? Don’t see why not. ✌️

[@ventaliq]

@@LedyE and step 5…. DELETE TIKTOK!!!!!!

[@ForeverFlower]

6:00 no, celebrities aren’t the reason ozempic is expensive. I worked in pharmaceutical benefits in 2017 and it’s always been overpriced. The number of times I had to explain to diabetics their insurance didn’t cover it, they’re so desperate to get it because THEY NEED IT to live, then telling them they have to pay out of pocket $1,200+ each month, was so depressing. Hearing the shock and despair in their cries over the phone broke me. Rich people using it for weightloss isn’t what’s causing the high price tag, it’s the pharmaceutical companies that make necessary, life saving medication unattainable

[@bellalobela]

I was about to comment this. I also work in pharmacy and Ozempic has always been crazy expensive (even here in Canada). Pharmaceutical companies’ greed is way older than the Ozempic popularity rise. The recent worldwide shortage of it is probably due to its insane rise in popularity, but the price has always been absurd😭

[@isoldeob]

Prices of medical drugs in America is crazy we pay way less for the same medication in the UK but this because of the NHS. The American government could control the prices if they wanted to. That’s not to say some medications aren’t crazy expensive but a diabetic can definitely get their medication for free in the UK. The pharmaceutical industry is allowed to run riot in the US it doesn’t have to be that way

[@cyberfae]

omg this!!!

[@ljmmm666]

it's also strange, I know a good number of people who take it (or mounjaro) and they have had no issues with their insurance covering it and it being in stock. I wonder if it's a regional thing?

[@Britzeldi]

In many countries in Europe, a month's supply of Ozempic costs about $100.

[@raspdere]

I'm a recovered anorexic, and this trend worries me. Your body deteriorates quickly when you're underweight. You lose your hair, your period, you grow a layer of peach fuzz everywhere, you develop an arrhythmia, your resting heart rate can dip into the 20s, you feel weak, fatigued, depressed, and much more... you're literally killing yourself. I really hope these young people escape from this before it causes permanent damage. 😢 My heart is with them.

[@parvanirose]

I’m sorry you went through that. I’m glad you’re still here and have recovered. Giving people insight on things like this is huge.

[@SA-sb2wh]

This reminded me of my Hispanic family. “You’re looking a little big mija” a few moments later “eat more you’re too skinny”.. you can’t please anyone!

[@abiliv-lf9tz]

Families can be so stupid sometimes Like my mother has been making fun of my chest size for so long already like since I was 8 and I always tell her it makes me feel uncomfy n she basically jus says "oh I'm jus joking" but b-tch I can't "joke" abt ur ass being smaller than mine? Like she's lucky I ain't got low self-esteem n suicidal in all this online chaos Y'all r beautiful n frick wda yuh family saying at this point idek if they care

[@TearzDontFallXD]

My grandmother is the same, goes from "oh you are not skinny anymore what a shame" to "eat more you don't eat anything"(after having a full meal)

[@Ri57490]

It's just all a way to control women. Too tall, too short, too loud, too quiet, too much of a loner, spends too much time out with her friends, too messy, too much of a 'neat-freak' etc. But at the end of the day, the women who don't abide by societal expectations have a better quality of life or the same quality of life as the women who do. So might as well live how we want to freely.

[@mak27456]

@@abiliv-lf9tz bro what is it with moms thinking it is their business to talk about their daughter's chests??? my mom literally looks at my chest before she looks at my face when we meet up. i'm 26.

[@starswan]

@@mak27456jealousy bc theyre competitive and afraid of losing their youth. Mostly due to men, and societies pressures and conditioning to make money off our insecurities (consumerism) Sick but true.

[@Enchant314]

Idolizing any specific body type is awful and causes so much damage. The only thing we should aim for is health both physically and mentally

[@_salemtovar_]

100%!

[@rainbowcat498]

WORD👏🏻👏🏻

[@mikaelastefkova]

Agreed 🙏🏻

[@HulaMask]

@@Enchant314 do you feel that way about bodybuilders? I don’t think there’s anything wrong with wanting to be skinny. You can be skinny and healthy.

[@brandoniswhoiam]

There’s definitely an extreme on both sides the coin… when a healthy middle ground is the best option!

[@servingcant]

To think gen alpha are going to go through the same stuff we went through in the early 2000s is sad.

[@tammystiletto]

Exactly. I thought we’d gotten rid of that sometime around when we suddenly had whatever jeans you liked best rather than what was trending.

[@noface____]

my daughter will be 5 soon and i dont want her to hate her body like i did when i was 5 :( being a child in the early 2000s was rouuuughh

[@mushmush4980]

Blame the Kpop industry

[@SigynRegn]

I'm a millenial, was never skinny (in 2000 58 kilos, 171 cm height) and I never heard from anyone that I'm not skinny enough.

[@JauntyCrepe]

@@SigynRegnthat’s crazy guess you were lucky

[@sarahchillis]

I knew when low rise jeans made a comeback, things were going to go downhill.

[@honourlulu5562]

Facts💯

[@amandalogan89]

Ugh I hated that trend. Always worrying about your underwear sticking out!

[@hannahschell5880]

I'll be honest, I'm not sad at all to see BBLs go away. But this whole skinny movement is absolutely not a good alternative. I'm Gen Z and it's really sad to see us sabotaging ourselves like this. Maybe one of these days we'll popularize actual health, but I seriously doubt it. Great video, btw!!

[@autumnasters]

I agree Entirely. Also, this is besides the point but as a woman who is attracted to other women I don't necessarily find skinny to be attractive. I can't say that I love bbl's necessarily, mostly due to the health drawbacks, but you're right, this is a terrible alternative

[@oofoofoofityoof]

@@autumnastersoh yeah as a fellow wlw girlie I'm definitely attracted to a range of people but I definitely don't find the super skinniness attractive (potentially because I have a little bit of a thing for physically stronger and/or taller women, which is slightly problematic because taller than me is like 180cm/5'11 ish, but at least being stronger isn't hard given my pathetic noodle arms, that being said I do like a wide range of women and honestly I'm more into clothing style and faces than anything else)

[@autumnasters]

@@oofoofoofityoof as a petite girly, I approve this message!

[@Verena2022]

I had no idea people were obsessing over being skinny for Brat tour. I think it’s actually counter to Charlie’s energy completely. Charlie herself is a size 8.

[@harrietxo2310]

UK size?

[@tammystiletto]

@@harrietxo2310American size 8 is UK size 12.

[@tammystiletto]

Yes this! She is not okay with that mentality

[@str3brry]

who the hell is getting skinny to go to a concert 💀 like what do they have to do with each other

[@mootyboots]

Charli is probably a UK size 8 which is a US 4, so quite small. but i agree it goes against what charli and Brat stands for: being messy and having fun without worrying so much about the way you look!

[@user-lp2ju9pw1u]

Embrace body neutrality, and be grateful if you still have all your limbs/senses. It’s easy to want to look a certain way but we often forget how lucky we are to even have a fully functioning body. And we should extend kindness to others with the same mindset. So long I can extend my arms, I’ll always give someone a helping hand.

[@Milennys25]

Body neutrality! Great term, first hearing it😅

[@user-lp2ju9pw1u]

@@Milennys25 I don't know if I used the right term since 'true' neutrality is hard to achieve, but if you wipe your view of the ''ideal body'' clean you can form your own ideas of what you find attractive. So it's still not entirely neutral in of itself, but you essentially keep your own ideal as neutral as possible from outside sources.

[@Suited_Nat]

Agreed. I embrace body neutrality.

[@HiHi-lt1cb]

Yes!! 🎉

[@Maelstrome123]

I don't think we will see a society that extends that kindness to others on a large scale in our life. I really wish our appearance didn't matter.

[@clementinecritters]

i've lost 50+ pounds so far this year(health reasons), and it's scary to notice the vast difference in how i've been perceived now versus before.

[@effmltalks]

People treat you how?

[@mikaelastefkova]

I wish to the best health possible 🍀

[@quandaledinglejoo]

@@effmltalks Probably better. Yk how it is; First, you're invisible, and/ or treated poorly. Then, you magically become visible, and people start treating you better. Might not be the case for everyone, but it happens a lot.

[@eliza-cv4bi]

People probably think you look so “happy” or “healthy “ just because THEY find you more attractive when it is literally a health condition, I’m sorry you’re going through that.

[@raej2353]

I gained 40 lbs in under a year due to two different meds, and I can tell you the same from the opposite side 🙃

[@siennarena5165]

I grew up in the 2000s and I was skinny (mostly due to possible ARFID) but personally I don't think the desire to be thin ever went away. People just learned to mask it better. It's why I feel they are so quick to embrace the rise of Ozempic and diets.

[@h0neym00nl0ve0]

this!

[@camille-a]

I agree, body positivity and body neutrality were counter-movments, not the standard. The standard changed about the curves of the booty but slimness was overall a goal anyways. Altough, there's a HUGE difference between the desire of thinness and the promotion of toxic skinny culture.

[@shawnatorgerson3455]

OMG when she said “you don’t have to match the image in your head to live life and be perceived as good” I started bawling. I really needed that ❤

[@katwinabee]

mentally I connect this to the self depreciation -> edgy humor -> brutally honest -> actually offensive -> societal regression pipeline. we got so used to talking bad about ourselves then we made jokes about others then we made slights at our own friends and family and then at entire groups of people and now we are in hell. again!!

[@_salemtovar_]

this is so true and such a good take! i think people need to remember that every joke eventually shines a tiny point of truth the more we use it, and it can be harmful if we don't recognize that- it can quickly go down a rabbit hole of straight up hating yourself (i know from experience yikes)

[@pizzadogma]

This is why I personally believe Gen z will be the next boomers in terms of conservatism.

[@orangemelon92]

@@pizzadogma oh no that's sad and i unfortunately wouldn't be surprised

[@Dave102693]

@@pizzadogmamore like Gen Alpha honestly

[@chelinka777]

you got that right

[@cakepopslingshot9181]

Personal victim of the 2000’s here. Looks fade; bodies change. No one is guaranteed perpetual good health and to value another on how you think they live their life isn’t a way to connect. Being mean is high-key the trend that gets repackaged every generation. We’re all allowed to exist and have full lives.

[@cindypaczkowski6891]

So very true!

[@glupik1234]

Being mean is pathetic behaviour tbh.

[@Blind_Girl_Dre]

As a diabetic on ozempic, I don't understand how non diabetics are taking this med. stabbing your self sucks and the side effects suck. I don't want to be nauseas half of the time and have to throw up bc I finished my normal sized meal. I'm a snack girly and I can't just snack anymore. I love that the medication has helped my blood sugar numbers but I'm not a fan of the side effects.

[@HulaMask]

I think a lot of people have pretty shitty diets and when they’re on a bit, they’re not getting that same amount of shitty food. So I think that’s why they might not be having the nausea and stuff. I think they’ve felt so unwell for so long that symptom like nausea wouldn’t even phase them if that makes sense. You know like when you go on a road trip and all you eat is fast food and then you have heartburn for a week and your constipated. Nausea would be nothing compared to that.

[@HareHareMari]

A lot of non diabetics are on this medication because they are trying to prevent diabetes in the first place. According to the CDC, 1 in 3 American adults are pre-diabetic and most don’t even know it. Both sides of my family have struggled with obesity and diabetes. I could see the path I was heading down until I started taking compounded tirzepatide. Now I finally feel in control of my health. I think more ppl should have access to this medication.

[@Sak-Formerly-Nope]

You took the words right out of my mouth. My numbers are great now, but the side effects kill me. I have gotten into cooking a bunch more, though & meal prepping.

[@HulaMask]

@@Sak-Formerly-Nope I love that you are cooking more! I’m the same way. TikTok and all the recipes on there have been a lifesaver. I wish we had discovered how much easier it is for our bodies to function when we cut out the ultra processed junk.🥰

[@YuniX2]

People dealt with the side effects of anorexia just to be thin in the 90's and 00's and you wonder why people are willing to put up with the side effects of ozempic? You underestimate people's obsession.

[@mialeniemer6139]

In therapy I worked on becoming neutral to my body and it`s something that really helped me. Not trying to love my body or finding it beautiful. Just seeing it what it is: some flesh that helps me getting through my life. Being more grateful for what my body allowes me to do and less how it`s looking.

[@StormSought]

As a person with chronic fatigue I appreciate you just doing the video from bed and looking after yourself so much, we've got to make it normal.

[@amyswallow742]

remember being a plus size kid in 00's wishing the era of thin would end, seeing the era of body positivity rush in and being disappointed with the plus size community making fun of thin people and trying to change the beauty standard to curvy, and now we're back to broomstick thin. Sigh is there no way out of this madness?

[@Suited_Nat]

Real. As a person who’s chubby and has been for years, the girl dinner stuff yeah, it’s weird. To some degree I get that I don’t have the time or energy to make a whole meal, but that’s in no way comparable to the “girl dinners” of one grape.

[@annak804]

I was a skinny girl I hated it mostly because of my metabolism trying to kill me if I didn't eat every 3-4 hours. I now have thick thighs a momma's pouch and I'm fairly happy still wish I was stronger but I like my thighs and butt. I'm healthy for the most part and working to get stronger and have more endurance because I want to keep up with my kids. I didn't enjoy constantly being told to eat a burger when I always felt hungry.

[@Herpusderpus]

Ignore trends. That’s what I do.

[@h0neym00nl0ve0]

unfortunately no. it's always a cycle

[@ashleighberryman9280]

Same. Same.

[@moldycat4852]

As a millennial I can confirm we were all on the verge of disordered eating in the late 90s to early 2000s. We sacrificed looking our best just to be thin and were never allowed to feel good about ourselves. It literally consumed our lives. We were just a bunch of sad, lethargic bobble heads in low rise jeans. Don’t do it gen z. Save yourselves.

[@peanutbutterprincess]

OMG bulemia was just a right of passage for all self respecting 90s girls.

[@photographerleia]

Saw a video yesterday about a girl who said she started baking again because it reconnected her with food and a time when she didn't food check herself. Yall I got misty eyed. Wonder if I could do that. Never had an eating disorder, but this here millennial (me) for sure has disordered eating.

[@TheOneTheyCallTim]

When I say it took years to heal my body dysmorphia and calorie counting in my head.

[@murmea_meoi]

I remember my older sisters drinking juice and eating cucumbers for a week, then binging, then not eating again. Loosing 5kg, gaining 10, doing cardio in a plastic suit, losing hair, vomiting. It was horrible to witness as a child.

[@_oaktree_]

I still think about those spreads in Seventeen where they had "real girls" modelling and would say what they ought to wear to make up for their flaws (if you're "curvy" you should wear wider flares to "balance" your hips; if you have short legs you should wear boot cut jeans over heels to make your legs look longer, etc). Lives in my head rent free

[@TheOneTheyCallTim]

Elder millennial and survivor of the Y2K beauty standards. It made our teen years hell. I knew the pendulum would swing eventually but I never thought this far back. Then add a trend to inject yourself with a drug you know little long-term effects of. For vanity?! I want off this ride! It took YEARS for me to heal my body dysmorphia.

[@StoryBird2]

My mom only overcame her body image issues because her coworkers complimented her a lot after giving birth, yeah, my mom was self conscious because she wasn't bone-skinny after giving birth. I really don't like it when people body- shame pregnant women it's so nasty.

[@billnyethescienceguy365]

The ozempic ie what makes it worse reminds me of those worms people used to swallow.

[@hagelslag9312]

@@StoryBird2 It's absolutely insane. These mothers have grown an entire human being inside their own bodies, using their own nutrients and all the risks involved, which is an incredible thing and extremely difficult. And all they see is the size of a body afterwards. Absolutely crazy.

[@marsaaas]

Using "survivor of Y2K" is diabolical

[@quantumangel737]

I want off too, it feels like i'm in high school again and those were my worst years.

[@roobs001]

This whole "too much", "not enough" stuff is the whole reason my mom never kept fashion magazines in the house, for example as something to read on the coffee table. She didn't want to see it, but she also wanted my siblings and I to grow up without that kind of pressure. I think her positive influence gave me the strength to ignore a lot of the edited photos I see on Instagram (and later to just delete the app entirely for different reasons).

[@AD-ub7ly]

"the substance" couldn't have come in better timing

[@Clawyetta]

OMG. As a millennial, and a severe ED survivor, I wanna cry 😭 Please don't go there world, pleaaaase

[@celinepope]

Don't worry, we won't

[@FEVERDREAM889]

The early 2000s were so traumatic as a teenage girl. I hope we don't go back. The last thing these young people need is that culture.

[@MusikGirl23]

Yep. 34. Hospital, residential, groups, individual, feeding tube and IV etc…I think we need a healthy balance. Obviously it’s possible to be at both ends of the spectrum and neither one is good, but I hate that young GenZ and older alpha kids are going to be in their teen years with this. I still don’t have good body image. Hated my rear end because it wasn’t flat etc and that was the style. Etc.

[@mak27456]

I'm glad you're still here

[@byejesper]

Yep. The world will go there, I won't tho. Not falling for racist beauty standards again.

[@lalakuma9]

🦆 As someone who works in the fashion industry, my conspiracy theory is that major fashion companies just want to cut the plus size line. It's actually more challenging to mass-produce clothes for larger sizes and get the proportions to fit nicely on a lot of people, because plus-size customers' proportions vary much more than straight-sized customers'. Especially brands that are not specifically dedicated to doing plus-size probably don't want to be bothered to do it just to make a relatively smaller number of plus-size customers happy. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if the fashion industry has a big influence in deliberately making the skinny Y2K look trend online, or was at least really giddy to jump into the bandwagon when Ozempic became a thing, just so that they can cut costs and maximize profit from smaller clothing sizes, which are easier to mass-produce. EDIT: Oh by the way, the reason why runway models wear size 0 is because it requires the least amount of fabric material (to create samples/prototypes to just sell the design to potential buyers). And because it's easier to make clothing look flattering and make the design stand out on a model whose body shape and size is... less present than the clothing design. So don't feel bad about your body. Whatever the fashion industry does is 99% for economics and investors' profit. They are not designing for you unless they can maximize their own profits.

[@marypuppet110]

I've seen this in the recent years. I can vary through XL-1X-2X depending on the shape and feel I want in my clothes, but shops I used to love, suddenly closed their "plus size" section of the store with no reasons and it wasn't even true plus size to begin with. It's really disheartening.

[@AD-ub7ly]

absolutely. its not the "fashion non-profit" its the "fashion industry"

[@autumnasters]

ISTG I'm convinced this has to be true. Especially in this post pdemic economy

[@Chikina]

This is an excellent take and i completely believe it. Anything for profit.

[@Dgnmuse]

I think body positivity was always a scam. Body neutrality is more reasonable. Like you're allowed to want to change for whatever reason but also just accepting where you're at is good. I have phases and I'm not always stoked about it. However I can't just love certain parts especially chronic pain but I can be indifferent. Moral of the story people shouldn't assume anything and even if they use something who cares!? It's not my life. I think it's all grift for the most part, thicc made money before and when people all went for it, gotta switch to make more money!! It's classic capitalism.

[@billnyethescienceguy365]

100% Agree body neutrality!! Stop following trends

[@mari98_]

I need to get back into my body neutrality discipline. Like as long as my doctors are happy about my bloodwork and exams, I’m active 3-4x a week, and try my best to nourish myself, my body is serving its purpose. Everything else is aesthetics. Sometimes it’s hard to forget that when you see this enormous attitude shift.

[@cupid3890]

I agree, accept your body but also be realistic

[@nijuuroku]

Yes, and not making fun of other people’s bodies.

[@kitsterangel]

Yeah I remember people were also force feeding themselves and using this like liquid vitamin supplement that was meant to increase your hunger ??? when the "thicc" era got big (haha) a couple years back and then skinny people were getting body shamed so like.... That wasn't exactly giving body positivity either 🤦‍♀️ There's unfortunately always going to be some new body trend to chase after bc people are always trying to sell things, and in another 5-10 years, it will swing again once enough people are skinny 🤷‍♀️

[@cloudy_1999]

Salem you forgot the "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels" quote we saw everywhere when we were young, i also remember being obsessed with wanting a thigh gap. Now that I'm older i can see my anatomy is literally not able to have one. So crazy how this is coming back 😞

[@Morena_lailana]

People don’t understand how serious this is. I’m a senior in high school, and throughout elementary and middle school, along with 9th grade, it made me incredibly sad to see girls taking their own lives or suffering from eating disorders. It’s painful to witness so many girls struggling in that way. And the fact there trying to bring it back.

[@ishathakor]

i can't believe the kids really took a look at the bodyshaming of the 90s and aughts and went "omg!! let's just do that again!!". also genuinely yall need to delete your tiktoks its gonna do wonders for your mental health. when you stop seeing impossibly skinny people who are using filters to appear that way all the time it's gonna be way easier for you to not be influenced by them

[@Regene2383]

Agree! Deleted TikTok and it was kinda hard bec being my gen z I miss out on a lot of the memes and jokes but it’s fun for them explaining it to me like “English or Spanish” lol

[@acemystic7537]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 as a gen z, I deleted tiktok and instagram and my life is so much better. less brainrot, more attention span, less stress about useless standards, more focus on my career. instant results

[@londonporter]

My sister says I’m so behind like I’m sorry I deleted TikTok like 2 years ago and haven’t used it frequently since

[@lc-do5eo]

I deleted TikTok and I feel so much better now.

[@Loool_7656]

Yep, I deleted tiktok 2 years ago when I was 17. Before it went left, deleted Instagram at that time too. It does wonders for ur mental health. Although I still struggle (just differently).

[@maryp9923]

you mentioned the skinny tea for like half a second and it makes me laugh because that’s basically a laxative. It’s like reverse bulimia but with diarrhea LOL

[@3ratsinatrenchcoat]

actually, that is just bulimia. bulimia involves expelling in many ways, not just throwing it up...

[@drugstore999cowgrl]

laxatives and diuretics count as purging too, so it's basically just bulimia :)

[@GoldenWreck]

So it's basically the Hunger Games where the Capitol citizens use a special drink to throw up when they get full, come to life....

[@tammystiletto]

@@GoldenWreckomg this

[@maenad1231]

*regular bulimia It doesn’t matter which way you purge. It’s still bulimia

[@curse6186]

lately i've realized that we're regressing in so many things. all the changes we were starting to make for the best suddenly disappeared and the younger people have turned incredibly cruel, rude and mean for absolutely no reason, it's just for the sake of it. also, i would love a coloring book, your drawings are so pretty!!

[@Loool_7656]

No, like, literally. The return of early 2000s body type, the return of anti-feminism and being a ✨housewife✨(nothing wrong w being a housewife, but just the whole trad wife trend), racism being funny, the whole "oh no, woke liberal snowflake" thing. But to be fair though, knowing how easily tiktok switches people up. I feel like in just 2 years we're gonna turn back from that. Like, every year there's a new trend. Body positivity, being thick, being skinny, having a phat a$$, girl boss, housewife, trashy 2k aesthetic, cottage core, clean girl, mob boss. There's a new trend every year, and it tends to be a drastic response to the one before.

[@oldaccount90909]

I've been thinking the same thing. I had a weird realization the other day that sometimes it feels like I lived through times that were kinder and more morally grounded than now-- and in the ways our world needed to improve, we had hope that we would work to make it better. But it feels like we've gone backwards or lost momentum or failed to guide young people through the current times and changes. I see things like this and it feels like we're failing these next gens and I'm sad for what they're living through.

[@nanomia]

parenting...

[@hagelslag9312]

@@oldaccount90909 I feel like 2012-2015 were relatively okay. People consider it one of the most boring years but it was a time most people felt calm. For the most part. Not like whatever this dumpster fire is.

[@hagelslag9312]

@@nanomia I'd argue capitalism and politics. It's easy to blame the parents but then again we know why so few people are having kids. It's not easy to have children right now, when many are quite literally just surviving. Are parents responsible? Absolutely. But there are so many factors at play from the housing market, to stagnant salaries for the past 3+ decades, to exploding inflation, and we're seeing now genuine problems from global warming happening before our eyes. Not to mention the boomer generation, their parents, appear to be the least involved of all generations in helping with the grandkids. While previous generations did much more to help the families financially and mentally when raising children. Millennial parents are one of the first generation that are very much alone raising their children. Millennial moms work more than every other generation has so far. But they ALSO spend more time with their children than any other previous generation!? So they're definitely trying. Then there's the ridiculous cost of child care. Nannies? Common in the 90's, any random person in the street could do it. Now? It's a rich people thing. It's easy to blame the parents but they get zero help raising these children. If we ignore their struggles and act like it's 'just' the parents, it will never be solved and only get worse. We NEED to improve it by making it better and easier for parents to raise these children. All of society depends on it yet everyone else is like "good luck, you have to do it, pay for it, and you better do it well or I'll judge you for it." Yeah no, WE need to do better.

[@_10619]

I’m so glad you brought this topic up because I feel like I haven’t seen a lot of other creators covering it. I noticed this behavior, especially when the term “big back” became popular. I would see people calling themselves and others big backs for eating a full meal. It breaks my heart.

[@mudiknives]

"you can't hate yourself into being someone else" hit me in a way can't describe and think you for saying it. Loved this video, it was hard to watch but necessary for me to re-open those wounds.

[@SpookySal13]

It irks me so much when they spell skinny like 'skinni' like they're trying to be cutesy about it

[@ariesfairy4444]

skinni

[@moldycheese6635]

It’s like the people back in 2020 who spelled angry as “angy” to feel cute

[@pizzadogma]

It probably bcuz its block on tiktok. U cant search up skinny without getting a message to a disordered eating hotline bcuz its usually associated with pro ana content

[@SpookySal13]

@@moldycheese6635 exactly!

[@JL-ow5hp]

I think it’s used so that the algorithm and bots don’t notice that it says skinny cause then it would lead to investigation of ED from the creator.

[@Grizzli49]

Young people are so vulnerable, I hate that this trend is coming back 😢 People died just trying to be skinny the first time round. Being hospitalised bc your body is shutting down isn't cute! 💔

[@katwinabee]

welcome back queen I hope the algorithm spreads this important video

[@elfasto2255]

it did for me

[@mitsypouskat7591]

17:40 jameela jamil is such a good voice on rhis topic that deeply affected her during the 00's. Her best quote summarised "my body is not a trend, you need to look after the future you because this back amd forth in treds causes permanent damage, even death"

[@annowtam]

This is my personal take as someone who used to have an ED-- I don't think it's a coincidence at all that this trend towards unhealthy thinness and disordered eating habits has come on the back of the pandemic. EDs and stringent dieting are often a misguided attempt at feeling some semblance of control over your life and personhood. You can't control what's going on in the world or how those are acting around you, but you *can* control your body... or so the thought process goes. A lot of people are still walking around with glaring mental health crises because of how disruptive the pandemic was (and still is) to their sense of personal safety, community, and their place in the world. The government, the news, the media, etc. all just want to act like it never happened and isn't still affecting us and I think it's doing a lot more damage to us collectively than we allow ourselves to realize. Mental health resources are already so poor in most countries across the world and are largely inaccessible to those who don't have a certain level of financial privilege, it's no wonder that many people are grasping at unhealthy coping mechanisms right now.

[@nonamekakoyto7692]

If it was about health the same girls would not smoke vape every second of the day

[@MadoraFu]

Love that the world is pretending like being skinny was ever not the #1 trend and expectations of every single human on earth. It'll never stop even if it goes through periods where being slightly bigger than skinny is also okay.

[@milkaboom]

@@MadoraFu yes totally! Has always been my opinion. Skinny as an ideal never went away in the real world. Yes on social media slight curves were maybe in for a few years but close that app and we common people have had the same ideal for 30+ years. I remember that in school all girls wanted to be thin even though it was the time people now say "thick was ideal". No, it sadly never was.

[@harrietxo2310]

Facts. I’m almost surprised. It’s always been at the forefront, always.

[@Dave102693]

This!

[@cupid3890]

@@harrietxo2310 mmm well the romans at the time idealized curves like crazy, and then the victorians wanted small waists and pale/frail complexions. and we kept flip flopping back and forth, then the slim thiccc trend came along and everyone and their mother wanted a BBL and would shame other people for not having a "Phat a$$", and now people want to be skinny again because obesity sucks. and the world keeps spinning in the nothingness that is space.

[@GoaWay...]

Well, actually it's not. For most black women and girls who come from black neighborhoods, it's the opposite for us. Being skinny is not what is preferred. Being thick...big hips, butt and thighs, with a smaller waist(coke bottle shape) is what we are expected to have, and a lot of us do. I know I did. 😊 I'm smaller now though due to muscle loss. Depending on where you live, your race or culture etc etc, the type of bodies that preferred changes.

[@JermaineJagger]

THAT South Park episode was TOO REAL on SOOOO MANY levels!! Also ALWAYS love your videos thanks for keeping it real & exposing so much gal!

[@Regene2383]

@@JermaineJagger which South Park ep??

[@JermaineJagger]

@@Regene2383 Its the Ozempic/Lizzo one Salem references in the video! It was a special on Paramount+ I believe this year. It was GREAT

[@chynaking-davis8193]

😅 I struggled with an ED in high school, and my friend Skyler was the only one who recognized it. She recently came back from rehab after battling an ED. I'm waaay better with food now, and I always make it a point to eat when I watch vidoes on this topic so I can remind myself to keep healthy. Thank you for spreading awareness about these issues, Salem! I hope everyone affect by these trends realize their mental health is more important than being socially beautiful.

[@jealously9340]

THE SOUTH PARK COMMENTARY NEVER FAILS 🤣🤣 I gasped and laugh cried when Cartmen said rich people get Ozempic and poor people get body positivity.

[@TrueImmortality]

So sad and honestly triggering for someone like me to see the heroin chic trend come back. I never fit that beauty standard. Not once, even when I did cardio practically every day and calisthenics three times a week. I have a big chest and a big butt, and I would have to do drugs and starve myself for my abs to show. I never looked Y2K "hot." I was so happy when it seemed like the beauty standard was growing more accepting. Now, it feels like we're going backwards.

[@kendrahall5902]

Same issues I have girl

[@theremnant7497]

Aw man. That sucks. I'm actually glad the 'thick' phase is over. Being super thin was just normal during y2k, and now I'm just normal again lol

[@TrueImmortality]

@@theremnant7497 but it wasn't normal. It was just over emphasized. Being fit and healthy is more important, and if that means you're thin, that's great! If that means you're on the curvy side, also great :)

[@Suited_Nat]

@@TrueImmortalityto be fair, I was a teen during the 2010s, and used to feel super uncomfortable with the whole “slim thick” trend that the kardashians pretty much made it explode. I don’t really have an ass, and I have a big chest. Growing up I was always chubby, (have a chubby stomach, flabby arms) so I wasn’t really ever considered “desirable” in those BS trends. Now though? I’m chubby; but I’m doing my best to feed my body in a way that makes it feel good, and makes my body last longer. Working out to help increase my endorphins, not for a body ideal. And to be fair, I’m nonbinary, and want top surgery, so I can’t fully deny me wanting to exercise is to help with transitioning. That being said though, I wanted to share my experience to show how it’s never helpful to have these standards; and as Gen Z myself I’m disappointed with all of the TikTok influencers in my generation supporting disordered eating and EDs. It’s gross; and to me has never been something I see as “trendy” and “cute.” It’s harmful and debilitating.

[@TrueImmortality]

@@Suited_Nat the slim thick trend was stupid because the only way to achieve a Kardashian body is plastic surgery, evidenced by the fact that now being skinny is back in, the Kardashians are suddenly smaller in the butt and chest lol

[@pinkeysherbet7249]

What makes the modern era different this time is that throughout history people used undergarments to create a silhouette. Panniers, stays, corsets (which were not uncomfortable if they fit properly btw) crinolines, etc created the shape so it didn’t matter what your body really looked like and you could be fashionable at any size. Now we have to manipulate our very skin now that cloth is cheap to produce.

[@diamcole]

I'm 31 and I can't tell you how shocked I was to see the "girl dinner" aka disordered eating memes pop up on social media. Genuinely thought we'd all left the "iced Americano, granola bar (if that), and a spliff" obsession back in the late 90s, early 2000s.

[@Regene2383]

I admit I done girl dinner bec it’s hard to pay for grocery out here lol living off cup of noodles but it is sad when used to make eating disorders cute

[@alyseceleste]

I did girl dinner without even knowing I was doing it. I just wasn’t hungry at “dinner time” when I was in my 20’s. I snacked all day

[@diamcole]

@@Regene2383 To be very clear, I've also been there! I think that's very different than masking an ED.

[@roxassora2706]

​@@Regene2383Right? It was supposed to be a fun trend. Just showing off lazy dinners being made.

[@Regene2383]

@@roxassora2706 exactly!!

[@berry.hadita]

Thank you for this videoooo!!!! I was diagnosed with PCOS at 19 (im 27 now) and it's been so hard. I've always hated my body, even when I weighed less than I do now 😭 I'm at my heaviest now and I'm trying so hard to undo everything. A big part of it is my stress/anxiety and I've realized that a huge part of that is because I suck at setting and respecting my boundaries. I'm back in therapy, going to the gym, did research on supplements, cut out dairy and gluten and I know I can do it this time! You inspire me so much! Ive been watching your videos for forever and it honestly meant the world when you started sharing your PCOS journey! I wanna start doing the same so I just wanna say thank youuuu! From one older gen z latina w PCOS to another hehe. 💗💗💗💗

[@picklerick9106]

was waiting for someone to talk about this because i feel i've been slowly watching all body positivity fade, now everyone is just finding excuses for promoting skinnyness and eating disorders again

[@roxycocksey]

I knew this was going to happen when the body positivity movement went a little bit too far and I saw people pushing back years ago. The pendulum always finds a way to swing back. It’ll keep swinging back and forth, further and further each time, until it makes a full revolution.

[@WifeyJellyHand]

I turned 14 in 2000, I watched ANTM and all the celeb gossip. I still have a really messed up relationship with food and body image due to the worship of the midriff. That flat expanse of skin on display thanks to crop tops and super low rise jeans was everything. The skinny jean/thigh gap trend was the final nail for me.

[@KFrost-fx7dt]

Y'all are too vain. Want to know what I was doing in 2000? Playing soccer and collecting breyer horses. Just be a kid already!

[@marart926]

​@KFrost-fx7dt hard to do when social media and strangers literally just talk about looks. But good for you for being so above it all and giving a "not like other girl" vibe

[@KFrost-fx7dt]

@@marart926 Okay. Thank you. I legit never see people on social media or in real life talking about looks all the time. Maybe you live in Hollywood or something. To me real people aren't that superficial. Most of us in this world are just focused on work and family.

[@steph678]

​@@KFrost-fx7dtwere talking about the youth. Not people in their 30s

[@KFrost-fx7dt]

@@steph678 are you aware that people in their 30's were kids once?

[@JoeNoshow27]

I think it would've benefited people more (and still can), to have taught people acceptance rather than positivity. I think it's cruel to tell someone they should, or can, love every aspect of themselves. That's completely unrealistic. We can always strive to make healthy changes in healthy ways, but sometimes the healthiest thing we can do is to say, "I don't like this. And I'm not going to deny that I don't like it. But I'm also not going to obsess over it every waking moment, because that will only cause me to suffer pain I needn't suffer."

[@glupik1234]

but it was what body positivity was about. because if you hate yourself , you tend to take drastic measures to 'remedy' whatever it is that you hate, which in the long run won't be effective or healthy. body positivity was about saying "sure, my body isn't prefect, but I'm still thankful that it keeps me alive, and I'll take care of it with kindness". love isn't about erasing anyone's flaws and idolizing them.

[@zelbelreader]

I suffered from anorexia from age 15 to age 19. Eventually, my parents sent me to a recovery program. Today, I'm a happy, healthy size 6. But I'm still dealing with health issues caused by my eating disorder - from problems with my bone density to metabolic issues. Seeing thinspo coming back makes me so sad. I wish I could go back and tell my 15 year old self to ignore celebrities and just eat the pancakes after cross country practice. It's not worth it ladies.

[@quantumangel737]

I guess it's like a cycle that repeats itself, it's kind of triggering, some of us will have to ignore the new toxic trends for a second time.

[@itsjossshhh]

There was such a long time where I thought I was subscribed to you because your new uploads would always pop up, but I then realized that after aaaaalllll that time, I wasn’t subscribed. :’) Anyhow, I have always loved your commentaries! Being born in ‘97, I know exactly which periods of time you’re talking about, and I agree whole heartedly. I challenged myself to be more present in my life, and since then, I have learned so much more about myself and what it’s like to be present in the moment. It also means a lot to my loved ones, and it’s taught me that all the societal pressures and hot trends are completely optional and if not casually enjoyed, can be very harmful to easily influenced minds. There have been so many times that unhealthy behaviors have been promoted and glamorized, and it’s so nice to see someone with a big following think along that same wave length. Go you, Salem!!!! You’re truly a great person!!!!

[@m0ssamore]

I don't like the language being used in these convos of "gen z" I'm 24, going 25. I wish we would say "kids" or "teens" or "people born post y2k era". I feel that generational speak in this context plays into generational conflict which is often so laden with pointless drama these conversations tend to lose traction from proximity.

[@Suited_Nat]

I agree. To be fair, I’m 20, and Gen Z, and it feels really unhelpful to say this as a generalization. Like, I’m technically on the ‘older’ side of Gen Z, while there are still kids in our Gen. Saying that it’s “all our fault” is just blatant generalization and stereotyping. Like….. throughout my life I’ve been mostly chubby, I’ve never been particularly seen as “desirable” in these dumb trends.

[@LGrian]

I’m geriatric gen z/baby millennial and totally agree. The impact of Y2K culture on me as a 5 year old was completely different than how it was for 15 year old girls at the time. Also a lot of the people she mentioned as driving these “new” “old” trends are straight up millennials

[@LGrian]

@@Suited_Natyou’re not anywhere near the older side of gen z though. Gen z is now generally agreed to be 1997-2010. You’re literally closer in age to elder alpha than to eldest gen z

[@Looptripp]

The fact that all of these toxic trends are going to target sooo many vulnerable people…breaks my heart. EDs should never be prometed, especially not in this way. Trust me, social media is not helping at all. I have been there and it is not something worth being trendy for. Health and balance always come first.

[@KFrost-fx7dt]

If you're healthy and active then you will achieve a lower BMI without any effort. I think that's what the thin movement is trying to achieve. Notice how they all have pretty decent muscle tone.

[@mayraz5625]

@@KFrost-fx7dtthe muscle tone could just be their genetics. I don’t see any of these influencers posting proper exercise and nutrition posts. It’s mainly about showing off thinness

[@KFrost-fx7dt]

@@mayraz5625 oh I promise you, you don't get that body without hours at the gym and a personal trainer. They all look like dancers or gymnasts to me. When I think "thin" I think of those Victoria's Secret models that are skin and bones.

[@mayraz5625]

@@KFrost-fx7dt I disagree. I have a good body without any exercise, people always think I work out. It’s just genetics. I’m sure some of them are dancers or whatever but a lot of the ones I see just promote thinness without any concern for health. Thin doesn’t mean skin and bones…

[@KFrost-fx7dt]

@@mayraz5625 you're not as toned as they are. Not even close.

[@adobney720]

When I was in therapy recovering from my ED, one of the things I came to realise was that my ED habits were a form of control. I felt powerless in lots of areas of my life and my ED habits were in part a coping mechanism for me to feel in control. I wonder whether there are similar dynamics at play at large within the Gen Z community currently. The economic prospects on many Gen Z people don't look great and I wonder whether we're subconsciously using restrictive body image standards/habits as a means of exerting control. I think altering your appearance is one of the most accessible forms of change because you can almost always find something to do about it that's affordable (e.g. buying a cheap makeup product, going for more walks, eating less). Whereas other forms of change (like going to therapy, starting a new hobby, becoming more educated, traveling) cost enough money to create a barrier to entry to a lot of people, whereas changing your appearance is more or less accessible to all. I wonder whether the overall feeling of powerlessness of our generation is being reflected in this body trend because it's one of the few forms of change we can pretty much all participate in

[@mayraz5625]

Such an insightful pov, thanks for sharing. I have a similar story.

[@jessiedarrelljarbadan7326]

Really brilliant perspective here. I agree that the need for control is likely driving part of this. Well said!

[@spookypotatolady9097]

I was so happy not knowing what 'brat' and 'brat summer' meant and now I can never go back to that. 😦

[@keropi193]

Your content has evolved so much over the years. Thanks for approaching this topic with thought and nuance. I hate seeing all the extremes about folks bodies, thin or curvy

[@eliza6971]

It's like everyday women tried to close Pandora's box and as soon as Ozempic came out, celebrities and Gen Z influencers ripped it wide open in the name of 00s nostalgia and unhealed EDs

[@Toastcat890]

This was bound to happen though that’s just how it goes it goes back and forth between body standards

[@JoeTheGIFlow]

@@eliza6971 good, exercise is good. Working on yourself is positive nobody is perfect.

[@MADEbySOUL]

If beauty standards were about health, Athletes would be the ideal. So whenever these “I just want to be healthy” excuses come out. Ask why they aren’t on the Simone Biles Gold Medal routine.

[@annak804]

Or doing strength training

[@wellwell6096]

And even athletic people are not the healthiest, as an athlete myself, a lot of us have health related problems, or injury due training, so is really complicated to have an image of health bc it comes in different ways

[@onIyindreams]

i dont think you understand, like, how much ive been PRAYING for a large video like this. no one EVER has a large full conversation about this i hope this blows up and starts something, even if just a seedling.

[@brownie4493]

Yes!!

[@genericplantlife]

There are actually dozens, possibly hundreds of videos on exactly this topic and related topics on youtube if you took a few seconds to search for them.

[@brownie4493]

@@genericplantlife There are clearly not enough if we *have* to search for them. I have seen multiple people talking about stuff like lunchly, but I haven't seen anyone else talk about this.

[@l0st_illusi0n23]

This genuinely makes me so sad. As someone who has struggled with disordered eating seeing this type of stuff come back is extremely disheartening. It scares me, iv’e worked so hard to try and fix my relationship with food and it’s so difficult to see thinness and under eating not just be promoted, but glorified.

[@dittocloud720]

As a 90s baby still suffering from the skinny girl era of the past… atp I already have body dysmorphia and this new movement is going to make it worse. Time to leave social media all together.

[@okaura]

all this has gotten to the point where I've discovered that I had my own ED. It sucks so much !!! I miss being a little girl and feeling happy when I see people praise and accept each other's bodies.

[@chikitty1152]

It’s to the point where I’m recovered from ED and have been for years and Twitter is constantly showing me ED related tweets that glorify and promote it almost like it’s inviting me back in but I have come too far maturity and growth wise to fall into the trap.I fear for the young girls still developing and learning having to have this shoved in their faces creating such a toxic environment for them to grow in..

[@billnyethescienceguy365]

I went on my friend phone and her twitter feed made me sad.. she claimed she don’t know why twitter recommended her that stuff but it’s quite obvious do you know how to support a friend or what you wanted at the time??

[@chikitty1152]

@@billnyethescienceguy365 honestly I suffered in silence for most of my ED,I think the media we consume can have a big impact so trying to separate yourself from toxic spaces and avoiding ED content all together might be useful although it’s easier said than done,I think them having a friend who genuinely cares about them is already an amazing thing,just do your best to stay supportive and don’t add pressure to them one way or another. I wish you luck! 💖

[@cupid3890]

lol what's your algorithm bc my feed keeps showing me alt-right tweets :(

[@chikitty1152]

@@cupid3890 idk tbh Twitter is just a mess for me rn,a ton of bs and stuff I don’t want to see unfortunately 🙄

[@heiext]

i get a lot of that edtwt crap on my Twitter page and no matter what I do it stays!!!! it's been affecting me recently and idk what to do...I try not to care but it's hard. it doesn't help that the people around me also influence me. for example my friends sometimes mention how I probably weigh the less out of all of them and other stuff like that.

[@anniecheyyy]

The fact that looking and feeling like death has become more idolized than upholding good and strong health, truly showcases just how absolutely dysfunctional and dystopian humans have made this world. Heartbreaking.

[@nanomia]

looking like death does that include all those body positivity influencers who died in their thirties? being fit is not really hard eat healthy and workout everyone look better when they're fit I don't know why a lot of people complicating it

[@codymartin6117]

Your videos are so important. Not only are they informative but you speak from the Heart!! Invaluable ❤

[@natatatm]

This is a nitpick, but body positivity initially was for disabled people not specifically against compulsory thinness. That's obviously what it became in its most popular form, but that's not the origin

[@WhatALief]

As a millennial, I definitely have disordered eating and body dysmorphia that I'm struggling with to this very day because of all this. It's very hard

[@elleveedotexe]

WHERE is my financial compensation because tumblr absolutely wrecked me. i mean, i was going to have an ED anyways with how society/media was, but, it really really hammered it home being this giant diary for everyone to feed off of each others' ideas (black coffee, cigarettes and condiment packets anyone?). thank you for making this video.

[@alyssachavez4732]

18:05 Yes thank you sooooo much for calling us out on our hypocrisy! We are a generation that complains all the time about wanting acceptance and acknowledgement but then turn around and complain about high standards that still have a hold on us.

[@Sinpathie]

🦆 Your point near the end of the video was especially eye-opening. Just a few days ago I was afraid of having fun at a party because I was constantly thinking about what others think about my own body.

[@colleenlinton6266]

body positivity was always flawed because it remains focused on the way your body looks whether it’s big medium or small. what it should be focused on is your health. how your body feels and its ability to successfully carry out its functions. if it is then that’s all that matters, no matter how the outside looks. that’s body positivity!

[@lemonbee3053]

It would be so awesome to see a video about your pcos journey. I suffer with PCOS and other chronic issues and seeing other people talk about what helps them would be so helpful and helps people feel seen. I'd love to see it :)

[@tremolo2109]

Can I just say, low rise can look good on people of multiple sizes. I look better with low rise, but I'm not skinny. High waisted looks worse on me. Why can't we just have multiple styles available and have them all considered good and just express and style ourselves however we want for our own preferences ;_;

[@KaiAstraStylist]

This is why we should have had a body neutrality movement instead of

[@nullusanxietas2379]

This.

[@pizzadogma]

Give it like 10 years

[@amyswallow742]

I thought the body positive movement was about love your body the way it is, but it seems to have gotten hijacked by the curvy girls and became about shaming thin girls

[@sarahubertwyss3905]

I’ve been following you for a loooong time, and I never get tired of your videos! I love how you tackle trending topics and make them accessible to all of us. The flow of your content and the way you express yourself is both informative and funny. Honestly, you’ve mastered the balance perfectly! And can we talk about your setup? The microphone is flawless, the camera quality is on point-everything is just *chef’s kiss*. Keep doing what you do, you’re amazing!

[@abbieamavi]

NOT ME TRYING TO SKIP THE OZEMPIC AD IN THE BEGINNING 😭

[@mollyoxy]

The next ~20 years are going to be brutal for young girls, more so than it usually is. I was a young girl in the early 00s. By then the 90s heroine chic look had its hooks in everyone. 00 was the ideal size. Minimal curves except breast implants. Back when "does my butt look big?" should be responded with "no" because having a big butt was an insult. I remember being like 8 years old and I was wearing these capris and another girl told me "those pants make your butt look big" and I was so ashamed 😭 I was body conscious ever since then.

[@MusikGirl23]

YES, even when I was severely anorexic, like days from death type anorexia, I didn’t have a flat rear end. My bones just don’t sit that way. But I hated hated hated my hips growing up. Still not exactly a fan of them. I’m 34, so my teens were all in the 00s…

[@miakilroy1239]

I also grew up in a time when the ugliest body attribute was a big hips/bum (in Ireland). Being called bottom heavy about 20 years ago while I was not overweight (because ED) had me spiral 😢 My small bewbs were practically considered a disability 😂

[@potternutmania]

Im a zillenial (born 94), the youngins just seem to be going backwards and its a bit scary

[@dd123387]

EDs/extreme body issues have been around for eons; I just hope that as time goes on that people start taking care of themselves better.

[@Riu-bw4bl]

I agree with this. Im a older gen z and I noticed gen z decided (I sew this outlook and perspective shift within gen z) to go back on a lot of progress made in the 2010’s. To a far degree. Disappointing.

[@sunnyday_lemonbars]

they also think they're invincible.

[@Suited_Nat]

As someone born in 2004, I really can’t tell who you are trying to refer to. Because at least for me, I’ve been on a journey as a young adult back to when I was 17 to be body neutral, or to have a body neutrality mindset.

[@kuma1326]

It's always strange to me why Tumblr is always brought up in these discussions about body image. On Tumblr back then, you only saw that type of content if you went and actively searched for, unlike other social media there wasn't an algorithm that would show you sensitive body image content. Only what you searched for and the people you chose to follow. Pro-ED related content is MUCH more prevalent on sites like Twitter & Instagram than it ever was on Tumblr because of algorithms, engagement, and recommended posts/accounts

[@cortneyphillips1792]

@@kuma1326 yeah I used Tumblr from 2011 until about 2015/16 and every time someone brings up ED Tumblr culture I have no clue what they're talking about. I /sort of/ remember the thigh gap obsession but it didn't seem to last very long. But like you said, people would've had to go looking for those communities on Tumblr, and I'm sure plenty of people with EDs did actively look for that type of content. I guess it just goes to show how many people have EDs 😖

[@kuma1326]

@cortneyphillips1792 Yep, I didn't even know those communities existed on Tumblr until I heard video essayists talking about it. It is sad that so many have had the same experience following ED culture online, but I'm glad they're willing to talk about it nonetheless

[@himekoizuki]

Thank you so much Salem your video essays literally saved me and my composition today!!!!

[@lauraaniakor9815]

I feel like a lot of people think that skinny went out of style, but I personally feel like it’s always been in, just in the background. People have always praised Bella hadids body even before the pandemic and the rise of tik tok. I work a bit as a fashion model also and the fashion industry never really deviated from herron(y’all know what I’m trying to say) chic. They just made it seem like they were being more inclusive in their campaigns, but on the runways and even some print jobs I would rarely see a plus size model/ a model w a different body type even. It’s sad that my generation is praising such harmful practices. People need to get off the internet and get into the world. There are too many insecure followers instead of those who want to set themselves out as individuals.

[@HannahCharbonneau]

I saw an ozempic ad on TV while I was at work, and it blew my mind. My coworkers were like "yeah, it's been going on for a while" and had nothing else to say about it. I'm glad I'm not the only one who is concerned by this

[@Dave102693]

When someone calls them out, they’re called ableist and fatphobic for being concerned about this trend

[@BlackShadowUchiha]

As a Gen Z I would like to not be connected to the people that are doing this on social media

[@Necrophyllis.]

As a gen z, non of us are part of the ozympic trend, that's the 30+ crowd.

[@BlackShadowUchiha]

@@Necrophyllis. I wasn’t talking about the ozempic trend I meant the other things that she was meaning being done by the gen z.

[@Suited_Nat]

@@BlackShadowUchihaYeah, I mean, I’m Gen Z as well. I’ve hardly seen these things on social media unless it’s talked about by creators mentioning absurd and gross trends. I hate how Salem is generalizing the entire generation as well, it gives off wanting to be a different generation….

[@maddybobatty2951]

My mother has had significant health issue from having her children. Type two diabetes and wieght gain. Her ozemphic prescription cost her a thousand dollar for about a monthish supply. Bc of price she has to go long periods without medication that her doctor has said is so important for her health.

[@heysaras]

The price is set by the manufacturer - not by demand. Demand can affect shortages though.

[@jinxedjupiter]

as a girl who is naturally skinny, i've noticed a lot of more issues with my body and then just catching it and being like erm no grill it's not true and then it doesn't necessarily fix it but you know we're working on it

[@crosem9]

I think you hit the nail on the head girl and sooo happy for the success you've found on your health journey 🦆❤ and a coloring book is the CUTEST merch idea ever fr

[@panikiczcock2891]

American size 8 is european 38/medium, right? How tf is that a big size?

[@sunnyday_lemonbars]

it's not except to these silly kids who think they'll be young and skinny forever.

[@eminekomimi44]

@@panikiczcock2891 in the uk that's size 12, which I would say is average sized

[@cma.ksiezycowa]

I was wondering the same! Is this a USA thing? In my country it's considered "normal" or even skinny lol

[@ULuvJanae]

Rich folks have Ozempic Poor people have body positivity

[@muersy6919]

@@ULuvJanae South Park was Right again

[@cassiel.6918]

Rich people have drugs, poor people have copium.

[@psychxmania]

oh, oh, oh, it's lizzo.

[@MommaBear87]

July 2021- Salem produces video essay about BBLs & body beauty standards being trends. October 2024- the trend has shifted as predicted and we're back in the other end of the spectrum, so its time again to ~*insert dangerous medical approach here*~

[@TentintanGo]

Your voice is so calming

[@user-oe3yc3bx4t]

Personal opinion, but my constant hyperawareness of how my body looks and is perceived went away after I started using my body to learn skills. I started a martial art, gardening and landscaping, and I like to do a lot of seasonal activities like fruit picking (great if I get to climb too), anything to do with water/swimming, even just going to the park and climbing around monkey bars or whatever they have. Thinking of picking up dance or skateboarding too. I think bodies exist for us to experience and interact with the world, I used to spend so much time just in my head about what my body needs to look like but really I was just unconnected and susceptible to whatever I saw online. After doing so much and enjoying what life has to offer, I just try to eat what I can to sustain the amount of things I like to explore and practice. Accepting our bodies for what they are seems like such a difficult thing if we do nothing with them other than prepare them to be viewed and approved by others.

[@jenna_jenna_jenna]

The super skinny mean girl energy is such trash. I’m just going to be me and feel good about it. As a millennial who lived through heroine chic, I’m so glad I had boys because society is ruthless for girls.

[@LilFishGirlA]

Great, I’m about to relive my preteen- teen years all over again in my 20s. Hey siri, play dear society by Madison beer.

[@sabrina1646]

me too, me too 😔

[@VerymuchKham]

Kenji's words were so inspiring😍😍😍

[@MariawithCats75]

🪿Great video - commentary Salem! How can we forget Posh Spice's moto: "You can never be too rich or too thin". Unfortunately, the latter part of this saying took over my life and became my psychosis to this day and age, so congratulations on pointing this out to the young generation Salem! (I'm a gen X girl and I find it so hard to pass on the wisdom i have gathered to the youngsters, so SALEM, PLEASE KEEP ON POSTING!). Thank you girl ❤️🩷👌✌️