Introduction We can see from the many posts on social media that society is striving for a semblance of perfection. Many teenagers identify with influencers and find their idols in role models. But this can quickly turn into an unhealthy outlook of life, a questionable value system and excessive concern for appearance. Low self-esteem, weight problems and dissatisfaction with body image are strong risk factors for developing eating disorders. This diploma work focuses on the extent how much social media and modern technology actually contribute to the development of eating disorders. Purpose: Intenton of this diploma work is to describe the types of eating disorders, to present the factors influencing eating disorders, to present the impact of social media on the development of eating disorders, to study and present the importance and role of nurses in the prevention of eating disorders. Methods: In this diploma work we used a descriptive method of work with a systematic review of professional and scientific literature. We used scientific and professional literature to retrieve the data, which we searched in the CINAHL, Medline and Cochrane databases and the DiKUL online search engine. We included articles published between 2004 and 2021 in English and Slovene language with access to the full text. Results: The factors that most influence the onset of eating disorders are female gender and younger age. But there is evidence in many studies that the internet and social media are one of the main problems today. As young people spend a huge amount of time on computers and on phones every day, this has become a worrying problem today. Discussion and conclusion: In reviewing the literature, we found that the vast majority of sources demonstrate the negative impact of the use of social networks on people and the development of eating disorders. Children and teenagers are especially vulnerable, as they grow up and build their personality on this basis. The collected results prove and cite quite a few examples of good practices and methods that would contribute to greater awareness and prevention. In Slovenia, nurses should be more involved and better cooperate with the school system. This would make children aware of the potential dangers of developing eating disorders.
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