Full Breakdown
YouTube Still Recommends Harmful Eating-Disorder Content to Teens
7/14/2026, 9:41:41 PM
Core Event
A study by the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) found that, one year after the UK’s Online Safety Act took effect, YouTube’s “Up Next” algorithm continues to recommend videos containing thin-spiration, extreme calorie restriction or other eating-disorder material to a simulated 13-year-old user. One in ten of the suggested videos fell into this category, although the overall situation has improved compared with two years earlier.
Background & Context
The Online Safety Act, whose key provisions came into force in July 2025, imposes a legal duty on platforms such as YouTube to protect users under 18 from content that encourages suicide, self-harm or eating disorders. Regulators, including Ofcom, have warned that YouTube and TikTok are not doing enough to safeguard young people and have called for stronger protections. Non-compliance can result in fines of up to 10 % of a company’s global revenue, potentially amounting to billions of pounds for YouTube.
Official Statements & Responses
Google, the owner of YouTube, reiterated a “steadfast” commitment to eliminating harmful content and confirmed that the specific videos identified in the CCDH report had been removed. Ofcom’s assessment emphasized that algorithmic recommendations must be assessed for risk and that platforms should take proactive steps to mitigate exposure for minors.
Criticism & Opposition
The CCDH research underscores that despite policy changes, algorithmic recommendations still expose teenagers to dangerous eating-disorder content. Critics argue that the modest improvement noted by the study does not meet the stringent expectations set by the Online Safety Act, and they call for more transparent reporting on algorithmic changes and enforcement outcomes.
Verbatim Quotes
- “YouTube is still recommending eating disorder videos to teenage users a year after new rules were introduced to curb harmful online content, according to new research.” — Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH)
- “It found one in 10 videos recommended by YouTube's Up Next algorithm featured thinspiration, extreme calorie restriction or other harmful material, although the situation had improved over the past two years.” — Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH)
- “Google, which owns YouTube, said it had a "steadfast" commitment to stopping the spread of harmful content and the videos highlighted in the report had been removed.” — Google
- “If companies do not do this they can be fined up to 10% of their global revenues, which in the case of YouTube could run into billions of pounds.” — Online Safety Act provisions (UK government)
