London: YouTube recommendations have continued to expose teenage users to eating disorder content despite new safeguards introduced under UK law.
Research by the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) has found YouTube’s Up Next algorithm still suggesting harmful content to a simulated 13-year-old user. About 1 in 10 recommended videos included thinspiration or extreme calorie restriction. The account had viewed diet and body image content for the first time.
The study has followed the Online Safety Act rules introduced in July 2025, requiring platforms to protect under-18s from harmful content, assess algorithm risks and reduce exposure, with penalties of up to 10 percent of global revenue for non-compliance.
Google has stated that it has maintained a strong commitment to limiting harmful content. The company added that videos identified in the report have been removed. The platform has also restricted content that promotes eating disorders while allowing recovery-focused material. Specially curated expert videos have been introduced for sensitive searches linked to mental health topics.
The CCDH study has also reviewed crisis panels. These panels appear below sensitive videos and direct users to support services. In 2026, none of the harmful eating disorder videos identified in the research triggered such panels. However, panels did appear on other related content that was not classified as dangerous.
Ofcom has raised concerns over platform safety, with 88 percent of children aged 3 to 17 using YouTube. Experts have described the link between social media and eating disorders as complex, while Beat has reported that around 90% of individuals have encountered harmful content online.
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