YouTube still recommending eating disorder videos to teens, research finds

YouTube is still recommending videos promoting eating disorders to teenagers, a year after new rules were introduced to curb harmful online content, new research reveals. The Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) created a simulated account for a 13-year-old girl to test YouTube's algorithms.

Researchers found that one in 10 videos recommended by YouTube's "Up Next" algorithm featured "thinspiration," extreme calorie restriction, or other harmful material. While the situation has improved over the past two years, the findings indicate a persistent problem. Google, which owns YouTube, asserted its "steadfast" commitment to stopping the spread of harmful content and confirmed that the videos mentioned in the report have been removed.

The research emerges as telecoms regulator Ofcom has stated that YouTube and TikTok are not doing enough to protect young people. In July 2025, a key part of the government's Online Safety Act came into force, legally obligating platforms like YouTube to protect under-18s from dangerous content, including videos that encourage suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders. Platforms must also address how their algorithms might harm young users and mitigate these risks, facing potential fines of up to 10% of global revenues if they fail to comply.

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It all started quite innocently. I wanted to get fitter, I wanted to get healthier, so I started going online and took social media very much at face value without understanding the facts.

Jazmin Kaur, 22, who was diagnosed with anorexia at 13 and spent six years in treatment, shared her experience. She explained that her engagement with online content started innocently as she sought to "get fitter" and "get healthier." However, she found that much of the material "made it a lot worse," particularly after leaving hospital. "Every time I left hospital, I'd have my phone with me and I'd constantly be on it," she said, adding that extreme content fed her vulnerabilities. Kaur eventually deleted her social media accounts entirely and is now pursuing a master's degree in pediatric nursing.

The CCDH, a non-profit organization researching online harms, created the simulated profile to compare YouTube's recommendations before and after the Online Safety Act took effect. The organization stressed that "one video still too many" is being recommended, highlighting the ongoing need for vigilance and stronger platform accountability.

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Every time I left hospital, I'd have my phone with me and I'd constantly be on it. I was fed such extreme content towards the end that I took it for my own vulnerabilities.