Eating Disorders · Texas behavioral health news
YouTube still recommending eating disorder videos to teens, research finds - AOL.com
Eating Disorders (Google News) · July 13, 2026
In plain language
Recent research shows that YouTube's recommendation system still suggests videos promoting eating disorders to teenagers, despite new safety rules. Studies found that about one in ten videos suggested to simulated teen accounts featured harmful content like extreme dieting or idealizing thinness. While the frequency of these recommendations has decreased over the last two years, experts remain concerned about the impact on young users. Families are encouraged to use platform tools like 'not interested' buttons and time limits to help manage what children see online.
AI-generated summary of the source article. Not medical advice.
Key takeaways
- YouTube continues to recommend harmful eating disorder content to simulated teenage users despite stricter safety regulations.
- One in ten videos recommended to teen profiles featured extreme calorie restriction or harmful body image material.
- The frequency of harmful recommendations dropped from one in four in 2024 to one in ten in 2026.
- Safety panels designed to offer support resources often failed to appear on videos flagged as harmful by researchers.
- Users can help protect themselves by reporting harmful accounts and using 'not interested' settings on social media apps.
YouTube still recommending eating disorder videos to teens, research finds AOL.com
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