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YouTube Still Pushing Eating Disorder Content to Teens
14 Jul
Summary
- One in 10 YouTube videos recommended to teens still features harmful content.
- Research simulated a 13-year-old's account to test algorithm recommendations.
- New rules aim to protect under-18s from dangerous online content.
A year after new rules were introduced to curb harmful online content, YouTube is reportedly still recommending eating disorder videos to teenage users. Research by the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) established a simulated account for a 13-year-old girl, which revealed that one in 10 videos suggested by YouTube's Up Next algorithm contained "thinspiration," extreme calorie restriction, or other harmful material. While this marks an improvement from previous years, the CCDH notes that "one video is too many."
The government's Online Safety Act, with a key part coming into force in July 2025, places a legal duty on sites like YouTube to protect users under 18 from dangerous content, including that which encourages self-harm or eating disorders. Failure to comply could result in significant fines. A 22-year-old from Leicester, who experienced anorexia from age 13, shared how online content exacerbated her condition, emphasizing the need for platforms to ensure safety.
The CCDH's research, which involved analyzing 100 recommended videos after viewing 10 potentially harmful ones, found that the proportion of harmful content had decreased from one in four in 2024 to one in 10 in 2026. However, none of the identified harmful eating disorder videos triggered a crisis panel. Google stated that the highlighted videos have been removed and that the company is committed to refining its approach to mental health support for viewers.
