YouTube's AI Algorithm Continues to Recommend Harmful Eating Disorder Content to Teens

CCDH ran teen test accounts and the recommender still served eating-disorder videos. The algorithm optimizes watch time and has no opinion about what it costs.

Research by the Center for Countering Digital Hate found YouTube's AI recommendation system still suggests eating disorder videos to teenage users, despite regulatory improvements. Simulated teen accounts received 'thinspiration' and extreme calorie restriction content, exposing vulnerable users to health risks. Protections remain inconsistently applied across regions.

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