Who is to blame for the rise in body image issues: The Influencers for posting fake standards, the social media Platforms for pushing this content, or The Users for not being "strong" enough to ignore it?

SCENE: A Friday afternoon. Ada is showing the group a viral "What I Eat in a Day" video of a very thin influencer.

​ADA (Looking at her phone, then at her own waist):

​Omo, see this girl’s stomach. It’s flat like a board! She says she only drinks green juice and water for breakfast. I feel like a bag of rice just sitting here. Should I start this "cleanse" too?

​NNE (Snatches the phone):

​Ada, stop it. That’s not a "cleanse," that’s starvation. This "thinspiration" content is toxic. They use filters to make their waists look tiny, then sell you tea that just makes you run to the toilet. It’s a scam, and it’s making girls hate their real bodies.

​JENNIFER (Nods, adjusted her glasses):

​There is a term for this in psychology. It’s called Social Comparison Theory. Studies show that when women are constantly exposed to these unrealistic images, their self-esteem drops significantly. Many influencers promote diet culture and "weight-loss hacks" that are actually dangerous. They are not fitness experts; they are marketers for body dysmorphia.

​OLA (Leans back, arms crossed):

​Let’s be real. Nobody is forcing you to look at the screen. People like looking at "fine" things. If you are weak enough to let a photo make you depressed, that’s on you. Influencers are just making their money. If "thin" is what sells, they will stay thin. It’s a business.

​JIDE (Softly): ​Is it really just a business, Ola? When a young girl in secondary school stops eating because she wants to look like an AI-edited photo, that’s a tragedy, not a business plan. We are creating a fitness obsession that has nothing to do with health. True health is being strong and happy, not being a size zero because you're scared of a "likes" count.

​NNE: ​Exactly! And the worst part? These influencers get surgery (BBLs) or use Photoshop, but then tell us it's "hard work and lemon water." That’s the lie that kills.

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