YouTube Still Recommending Harmful Eating Disorder Videos to Teens Despite New Safety Rules, Study Finds

Search engines and social media platforms play a major role in shaping what young people see online. While companies have introduced new safety measures to protect children and teenagers, fresh research suggests that harmful content continues to reach vulnerable users. A new study has found that YouTube is still recommending eating disorder related videos to teenage accounts, despite stricter regulations and platform policies designed to limit such material.

The findings have renewed concerns about the effectiveness of recommendation algorithms and raised questions about whether technology companies are doing enough to safeguard young users.

New Research Raises Fresh Concerns About YouTube Recommendations

A report released by the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) found that YouTube's recommendation system continues to suggest harmful eating disorder content to teenage users.

Researchers created a simulated account representing a 13-year-old girl in the United Kingdom. After watching several videos related to dieting and body image, they examined the next 100 videos recommended through YouTube's "Up Next" feature.

The results showed that approximately one in every ten recommended videos contained content promoting unhealthy weight loss, extreme calorie restriction, or so called "thinspiration" material.

Although the findings indicate an improvement compared to similar research conducted in 2024, campaigners argue that any amount of harmful content reaching vulnerable teenagers remains unacceptable.

Improvements Since 2024, But Risks Remain

The latest study shows that YouTube has made measurable progress over the past two years.

In a similar experiment conducted in 2024, researchers found that around one in four recommended videos promoted harmful eating disorder content. That figure has now fallen to one in ten.

While this represents significant progress, experts say recommendation algorithms should not expose children to dangerous material at all, particularly after new legal protections came into force.

Alexandra Johnson, Senior Research Manager at the Centre for Countering Digital Hate, said the improvements demonstrate that regulation can influence platform behaviour. However, she stressed that even a single harmful recommendation can have serious consequences for vulnerable young users.

What Is the UK Online Safety Act?

The research comes after the implementation of major provisions within the UK's Online Safety Act.

Since July 2025, large online platforms including YouTube have been legally required to protect users under the age of 18 from harmful content, including material that promotes:

• Eating disorders
• Self harm
• Suicide
• Dangerous challenges

The legislation also requires companies to assess how their recommendation algorithms may expose young users to harmful material and to reduce those risks wherever possible.

Failure to comply can result in penalties worth up to 10 percent of a company's global annual revenue.

For companies the size of Google, which owns YouTube, those potential fines could amount to billions of pounds.

Harmful Videos Identified During the Study

According to the CCDH report, several types of dangerous content continued to appear within YouTube recommendations.

Researchers identified videos that promoted:

• Extreme thinness as an ideal body type
• Very low calorie diets, including claims encouraging daily intakes of only 170 calories
• "Thinspiration" compilations celebrating unhealthy body standards
• Videos linking to documents promoting dangerously low body weight goals

Experts warn that repeated exposure to this type of content may reinforce unhealthy behaviours among individuals already vulnerable to eating disorders.

Personal Experience Highlights the Real World Impact

The report also highlighted the experience of 22 year old Jazmin Kaur from Leicester, who was diagnosed with anorexia at the age of 13.

Jazmin explained that her initial interest in fitness and healthy living gradually led her toward increasingly harmful online content.

She said that while some information online supported recovery, much of the material she encountered made her condition worse.

During periods of treatment, she frequently returned to social media after leaving hospital and found herself repeatedly exposed to increasingly extreme content through recommendation systems.

Eventually, while attending university, she decided to delete her social media accounts entirely.

Today, Jazmin is studying for a master's degree in paediatric nursing while also working in an adult mental health unit.

Her experience reflects the complex relationship many young people have with online platforms, where helpful recovery resources exist alongside potentially harmful material.

YouTube Responds to the Findings

Google said it remains committed to protecting users from harmful content.

The company stated that YouTube prohibits videos that encourage eating disorders or provide instructions that promote unhealthy behaviours. At the same time, it continues to allow recovery focused content intended to educate or support people experiencing mental health challenges.

Following the publication of the CCDH report, Google confirmed that the videos highlighted by researchers had been removed for violating YouTube's community guidelines.

The company also said it works with organisations including the NHS, Mind, and The Mix to improve its mental health policies and recommendation systems.

In addition, YouTube has introduced curated information panels and expert resources designed to appear when teenagers search for topics such as depression or eating disorders.

Why Recommendation Algorithms Matter

Modern social media platforms rely heavily on recommendation algorithms.

Rather than simply displaying videos users actively search for, these systems continuously suggest new content based on previous viewing behaviour.

This creates a personalised viewing experience but can also reinforce existing interests, including potentially harmful ones.

Researchers argue that even a brief interaction with dieting or body image videos may lead algorithms to recommend increasingly extreme material.

This pattern has become a growing concern among child safety experts and regulators worldwide.

The Complex Relationship Between Social Media and Eating Disorders

Mental health professionals emphasise that eating disorders develop through a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors.

Social media alone does not cause eating disorders.

However, repeated exposure to unrealistic body ideals, unhealthy dieting advice, and harmful online communities may increase risks for individuals who are already vulnerable.

Organisations such as Beat, the UK's leading eating disorder charity, acknowledge that online communities can sometimes provide valuable support and reduce feelings of isolation.

At the same time, the charity reports that the vast majority of people seeking help have encountered harmful content while using social media platforms.

What Can Parents and Young Users Do?

Experts recommend several practical steps that may reduce exposure to harmful content:

• Select the "Not Interested" option when unwanted videos appear.
• Block or report accounts sharing dangerous material.
• Limit time spent on social media platforms.
• Turn off unnecessary notifications.
• Speak openly with trusted adults about concerning online experiences.
• Seek professional support if online content begins affecting mental wellbeing.

Ultimately, experts argue that responsibility should not rest solely with users and families. Platforms themselves must ensure recommendation systems prioritise safety, especially for children.

Future Regulations May Go Even Further

The UK government has announced plans to introduce additional protections for children online.

Proposals under consideration would restrict access to major social media platforms for users under the age of 16, including YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and X.

If approved, these measures are expected to take effect during 2027.

The debate highlights the growing challenge governments face in balancing young people's access to information with stronger digital safety protections.

Conclusion

The latest research suggests that YouTube has made meaningful progress in reducing harmful eating disorder recommendations since 2024. However, the continued appearance of dangerous content within recommendations shows there is still significant work to be done.

As governments strengthen online safety laws and regulators increase scrutiny, technology companies will likely face growing pressure to improve their recommendation systems and ensure vulnerable users are better protected.

For families, educators, healthcare professionals, and policymakers, the findings serve as another reminder that creating a safer online environment requires ongoing collaboration between regulators, technology companies, and mental health experts.

Source: BBC News, Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), Ofcom, Google/YouTube, Beat Eating Disorders Charity.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It discusses research related to online safety and eating disorder content. It is not intended to provide medical or mental health advice. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder or mental health concerns, seek support from a qualified healthcare professional or your local mental health services.