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10th September 2024
12:01pm BST
YouTube’s recent decision to restrict the recommendation of health and fitness videos to teenagers has been praised as a “step in the right direction” by a leading online safety charity.
While teenagers aged 13 to 17 will still be able to access these videos, YouTube’s algorithm will no longer actively promote similar content to them after viewing, reducing the risk of repetitive exposure.
The content targeted by YouTube includes videos that idealise specific fitness levels, body weights, and physical features.
It is widely agreed that this type of content can contribute to unhealthy body image perceptions among young people.
Alex Cooney, CEO of CyberSafeKids, highlighted the potential dangers these videos pose to teens in Ireland.
Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, Cooney explained: “Fitness videos have become problematic for young people. This is one of the types of content being served up to children and young people using apps like YouTube.
“The problematic part is that it sends users down rabbit holes, so they’re only seeing one type of content over and over again."
Cooney added: "YouTube has obviously listened to advice that maybe it’s not healthy to see the same type of content repeatedly, especially if it leads to fixations on appearance."
While Cooney welcomed YouTube's decision as progress, he went on to say that many other types of harmful content on the internet still need to be addressed.
“It is a step in the right direction, but there’s lots of harmful content that needs attention, such as self-harm and suicide-related content, eating disorder content, sexual content, and violent or terror-related material,” he said.
“There are many categories of harmful content that we know children are exposed to.”
Cooney argued that YouTube’s decision to adjust its algorithm for health and fitness content shows its capacity to enhance online safety in other areas.
“Why not broaden it out?” he suggested. “This is an enormously popular app among children and young people.
“A report we published last week showed that 74% of eight- to 12-year-olds have a YouTube account. We know much younger users are consuming and sometimes posting content.”
Cooney also called for greater accountability from platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, insisting that there is a need for these companies to be more transparent about the impact of their content on young people.
“These companies have data on the impact their content has on young users,” he said.
“There needs to be greater transparency to make this information publicly available.”
