YouTube to Limit Teen Exposure to Content on Weight and Fitness

YouTube is implementing measures to reduce the exposure of teenagers to videos that promote specific body shapes, fitness goals, or physical attributes, following expert warnings that repeated viewing of such content could be detrimental to young users.

While teens aged 13 to 17 will still have access to these videos, YouTube’s algorithms will no longer suggest similar content, preventing young viewers from being drawn into “rabbit holes” of related videos.

The platform acknowledged that while these videos do not violate its content policies, frequent exposure to them could negatively impact the mental health of some users.

Dr. Garth Graham, YouTube’s global head of health, explained, “During adolescence, when teens are forming their identity and personal standards, constantly consuming content that promotes unrealistic ideals can lead to harmful self-perceptions.”

YouTube said its advisory panel of youth and family experts highlighted that certain videos might seem harmless individually but could become harmful when consumed repeatedly.

The new guidelines, now in effect in the UK and globally, apply to videos that: glorify particular physical traits, such as beauty hacks to make facial features appear slimmer; promote specific body shapes through exercise routines; or encourage aggressive behaviors like physical intimidation.

Teenagers who have registered their age on YouTube as logged-in users will no longer receive repeated recommendations for these topics. The platform had already rolled out these changes in the United States.

Allison Briscoe-Smith, a clinician and adviser to YouTube, said, “Frequent exposure to content that promotes unhealthy standards or behaviors can reinforce harmful messages, affecting how teens view themselves. These ‘guardrails’ are meant to help teens develop healthy habits as they navigate social comparisons and decide how they want to present themselves.”