YouTube's algorithm still suggests eating disorder content to teens in 2026, study reveals

YouTube continues to recommend videos related to eating disorders to teenage users, according to research released on July 14, 2026, by the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH). Despite new regulations aimed at curbing harmful online content, the study found that one in ten videos suggested by YouTube's Up Next algorithm feature dangerous material.

Research Findings on YouTube Recommendations

The CCDH conducted a study using a simulated account representing a 13-year-old girl who viewed potentially harmful diet and body image content for the first time. The analysis revealed that 10% of the next 100 video recommendations included harmful content like thinspiration and extreme calorie restriction. This marks an improvement from the previous year's finding where one in four recommendations was classified as harmful.

“One video is too many, and we don’t want any of this content to get through, particularly to vulnerable users,” said Alexandra Johnson, senior research manager at CCDH. The study was replicated using teenage profiles in both the US and EU, yielding similar results.

Impact of the Online Safety Act

In July 2025, a significant portion of the UK government's Online Safety Act was implemented, imposing a legal obligation on platforms like YouTube to protect users under 18 from dangerous content. This includes videos promoting self-harm and eating disorders. Non-compliance can lead to fines of up to 10% of a company's global revenue, which for YouTube could amount to billions.

Despite these regulations, the CCDH's findings indicate that YouTube's algorithms still require significant improvement. The study highlighted videos promoting extreme diets, including one suggesting a caloric intake of just 170 calories per day, far below healthy levels for teenagers.

Community and Support Resources

In the wake of these troubling findings, YouTube has stated its commitment to removing harmful content and has implemented crisis panels that direct users to support services. However, none of the harmful eating disorder videos analyzed triggered these crisis panels.

Jazmin Kaur, a 22-year-old who battled anorexia, shared her experience with social media and its impact on her mental health. “I wanted to get fitter, I wanted to get healthier, but much of the material made me feel worse,” she explained. Kaur ultimately deleted her social media accounts to focus on her recovery.

• 10% of YouTube's recommendations included harmful eating disorder content in 2026.
• Improvement from 25% in 2024.
• Online Safety Act imposes legal obligations on platforms to protect minors.
• Fines for non-compliance can reach 10% of global revenue.