The complexities of online social networking are immense and whilst in general it seems a child's innocent socializing is at some level protected or safe, a BBC online article this week highlights the darker side of the medium...

I have never come across the terms 'pro-ana' or 'pro-mia' before, coined by the Child Internet Safety Council (UKCCIS) to describe the influx of sites that target young people, predominantly girls, to see anorexia or bulimia as lifestyle choices and not what they are - serious mental disorders.

The online bombardment of female images of perfection is no different to what we encounter on a day to day basis in today's society but I guess that the internet can contribute by its very nature to the secrecy, intrusion and promotion of unhealthy choices for the vulnerable, especially youngsters...research apparently shows that for even healthy women viewing such websites cause low mood, low self-esteem and increased body dissatisfaction.

In this context the Royal College of Psychiatrist's call to the UKCCIS to take action and ban such sites is a step in the right direction in tackling what remains the most challenging and misunderstood of conditions, but its also about how to help support young people when faced with such sites; opening up the discussion about eating disorders and their potential danger.