TikTok has banned influencer Liv Schmidt for promoting controversial weight loss advice that many have labeled as “dangerous” and “harmful.” Schmidt, who had nearly 700,000 followers, posted videos that emphasized the importance of being skinny, which critics say glamorized disordered eating.
The 22-year-old corporate worker from New York sparked outrage with her content, leading to calls for her account to be removed. Dietitians and health experts argued her posts demonstrated an “unhealthy devotion to being thin” and posed risks to young viewers. In response, TikTok shut down her account, stating she violated the platform’s community guidelines related to disordered eating.
Despite the backlash, Schmidt has defended her content, claiming that staying thin is part of her personal aesthetic. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, she expressed her frustration over the ban, stating, “For me and my personal aesthetic, I like to be skinny, and there’s nothing wrong with that.” She also said her desire to “save America from obesity” stems from her own struggles with body confidence.
Schmidt’s TikTok videos included “what I eat in a day” posts, links to an Amazon storefront promoting dietary supplements and ankle weights, and access to a “Skinny Group Community Chat,” which charged subscribers $9.99 per month. Many critics called these promotions “incredibly harmful,” arguing that they encouraged unhealthy habits, particularly among young and impressionable viewers.
Social media users expressed their concerns on platforms like Reddit, with one user commenting, “There’s something so deeply sinister about a ‘regular’ influencer posting food like this and pretending like it’s normal.” Others feared for the impact on young girls who might be influenced by Schmidt’s content. “Young girls have and will continue to die due to this being peddled on the internet,” one person wrote.
Schmidt’s response to the criticism has been dismissive, stating that weight is a “touchy topic” but that her content is what viewers want to see. However, many health professionals argue that promoting such extreme views on weight and dieting is harmful, particularly on platforms like TikTok, which is popular with younger audiences.
The Australian Government Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has emphasized the importance of balanced nutrition and warns that inadequate or excessive amounts of food can lead to poor health outcomes.
