To protect teenagers from potentially harmful content on YouTube, the platform has declared plans to broaden its restrictions on the repeated recommendations of videos that glorify specific body types, weights, and fitness levels across Europe and the UK.
This update builds on YouTube’s initiative from 2023, which initially applied to U.S. teenagers, as detailed in the company’s recent blog post. The announcement mirrors the initial language used for the U.S. rollout, thereby extending its geographical scope.
In line with its U.S. actions, YouTube will now restrict repeated recommendations of videos that fall into particular categories, such as “content that compares physical features and idealizes certain body types over others, praises specific fitness levels or weights, or showcases social aggression through non-contact confrontation and intimidation.”
YouTube has flagged these content types as potentially harmless when viewed individually but potentially damaging for some teenagers if consumed repeatedly.
This information was shared by Dr. Garth Graham, the director of YouTube Health, and James Beser, the director of product management at YouTube Youth. Their recommendations stem from YouTube’s youth and families advisory committee, which was established in 2018 and comprises independent specialists in children’s media, digital education, and development. This committee’s purpose is to advise on the influence of online content on teenagers, a demographic that is particularly active on social media, especially on YouTube.
“One of the committee’s findings is that teenagers are more susceptible than adults to developing negative self-perceptions when exposed to persistent messages about ideal standards in the content they consume online,” Graham and Beser emphasized.
A 2019 survey by the UK’s Mental Health Foundation revealed that 37% of teenagers felt “upset” and 31% felt “ashamed” regarding their body image. Additionally, four in ten teens reported that social media imagery caused them to worry about their appearance. A 2022 report by the UK Parliament’s Health and Social Care Committee examined multiple factors contributing to body image issues, highlighting the impact of online platforms. “The rise of social media and online advertising has heightened exposure to specific idealized body types,” the report concluded.
YouTube plans to implement these content limitations alongside existing measures that restrict certain types of content for teenage viewers, as outlined in YouTube’s Community Guidelines, which already block videos sharing personal stories about eating disorders. A report by the UK eating disorder charity Beat indicated that 91% of individuals with eating disorders came across “content harmful in the context of their condition,” citing experiences of being “bombarded” with triggering content, imagery, and ads that exacerbated eating disorder thoughts and behaviors.
“A higher frequency of content that idealizes unhealthy standards can amplify problematic messages which, in turn, can influence how some teenagers perceive themselves,” stated Allison Briscoe-Smith, a clinician and researcher who is also a member of YouTube’s advisory committee in a statement. “Establishing guardrails can support teens in developing healthy perspectives as they navigate their own self-image compared to others and how they wish to present themselves to the world.”
While YouTube has not explicitly stated it is in compliance with regulatory measures, these enhanced safeguards coincide with the recent implementation of the European Digital Services Act and the UK’s Online Safety Act, which mandate that tech and social media companies safeguard users and prevent children from encountering harmful or age-inappropriate content.
For more insights on the online safety of teens and children, Mashable is here to help.
If you feel the need to discuss your eating habits or behaviors, please text “NEDA” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to reach a trained volunteer, or visit the National Eating Disorder Association website for further information.