Earlier this year, Jezebel, the Gawker Media-owned women's blog, resolved to do something about weight. This wasn't a gimmick to kick-start dieting among its loyal band of female readers. This was a resolution aimed at changing the way young women talk about one another.

Anna Holmes, the editor in chief, posted "This Year, Let's Call It Quits on The Nasty Nitpicking," quoting this plea from Erin, a reader: "You know what would be great? A no negative comments on a woman's appearance rule, or maybe even a no negative comments...