Some sites that claim to offer support to eating disorder victims actually encourage the behavior through pictures and messaging. 

According to a Stanford researcher, many children visit these sites looking for support, only to discover new weight loss techniques and begin to feel that their choices are validated.  This study also shows us how teens have become dependent on the internet for information, which presents special challenges for us as parents.  The days of Dewey Decimal and the gossip chain at school as our childrens’ primary information feeds seem to be gone.