The Purpose
As we are in the process of finalising our pitch, it's important the exact purpose of our feature is clear. Ultimately, we want to develop an interactive investigative piece which taps into the easily concealable, sophisticated network of “pro-ana” (pro-anorexia) websites - sites which glorify the disorder of anorexia as a lifestyle choice, and supporting those who have made that choice.
Our feature is not an attempt to demonise these forums, nor to align ourselves with pro-recovery sites or operate as our own support network for victims of anorexia. Rather, we are focusing on unveiling the prevalence, content, tactics and effectiveness of pro-ana websites.
The Need
As Steph pointed out in her post ‘OUT OF ‘SITE,’ Our of Mind,’ in the past few years the move to censor pro-ana sites has been gaining pace. There is general public engagement in the question of internet regulation, but the debate is dominated by issues of child pornography, while analysis of others sites subject to potential regulation is often overlooked, as seen in the recent national IQ2 debate on internet censorship.
Due to their highly guarded nature (often only allowing users to access the site through membership), pro-ana sites in particular fall under the radar. To encourage an informed debate and engage the pubic, our feature should aim to draw more detailed attention to pro-ana websites and question how dangerous they really are. We will have to look more closely into the nature of our target audience (politically engaged australians) to work out the best ways to attract users to not just visit, but navigate through all the features/links of our site.
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