YouTube limits weight and fitness video recommendations to teens – but broader changes needed

YouTube restricts teens’ exposure to fitness and weight-related videos to protect their well-being. This means that the platform’s algorithm will no longer make repeated recommendations of content focused on achieving specific fitness levels or body weights, or touting particular physical characteristics.

This could include gym routines that involve striving for a certain look and videos that idealize beauty features – such as “how to have a chiseled jawline”. At the same time, Youtube imposes restrictions on recommending content “displaying social aggression and intimidation” to under-18s.

But these changes don’t stop teens from seeking out and viewing this type of content – ​​and may not be enough to effect meaningful change.

Social media platforms are a fundamental part of youth culture. They have the power to shape perceptions regarding appearance, health, fitness and lifestyle. Their vast repository of appearance-related videos can put a lot of pressure on young people, bombarding them with all kinds of content promoting unrealistic and often unachievable body standards.

The role of the algorithm

Research has shown that exposure to appearance-related content on social media is linked to increased body dissatisfaction and increased engagement in more restrictive eating behaviors.

It can be difficult to escape this type of content when algorithms are designed to continue feeding it to users, even as young people actively seek out more positive, less harmful content. This can create a situation where adolescent curiosity can quickly turn into a dangerous obsession – with worrying consequences.

For a teenager who watches, for example, their favorite influencer’s “day at the gym” video, the algorithm will then provide more and more content related to fitness and weight. Watching this video opens the algorithmic “rabbit hole.” For impressionable young adolescents, this has the power to exacerbate harmful behaviors and consequences.

The fact that YouTube limits the recommendation of this content goes some way to dampening the power of the algorithm. But even with the restrictions in place, there is still a wide range of fitness, beauty and weight-related content on the platform that can perpetuate harmful body standards. YouTube’s restrictions won’t stop teens from being bombarded with this same content on other apps, either.

Body image and social networks

Body dissatisfaction in adolescents is linked to depression, anxiety and eating disorders. Adolescents are at a critical developmental period where they are highly susceptible to social influences, so the content they are exposed to on social media can strongly affect how they perceive themselves.

The rise of fitness and beauty influencers on social media and all the videos about strict exercise routines, “what I eat for a day” videos and beauty routines have gone hand in hand. Teenagers feel pressured to conform to the body ideals depicted in this content, but these “ideals” are often virtually unattainable for most.

In reality, influencers often use a variety of filters in their photos and videos. These digitally altered images create a distorted view of appearance, contributing to increased body dissatisfaction among adolescents.

More needs to be done to address the broader societal issues that fuel body image concerns among adolescents. It starts with education.

If we give adolescents the knowledge and understanding of how algorithms can affect what they see, as well as the risks associated with them, then they will be able to feel a sense of empowerment and autonomy over their own safe use of social media. Media literacy programs have been found to improve adolescents’ body image, equipping them with the skills to critically engage with online content.

YouTube, as well as other platforms, could play a more active role in promoting body diversity. This could include uplifting videos that challenge traditional beauty standards. The combination of powerful algorithms, societal pressures and the ubiquitous nature of social media means a more holistic approach is needed.

If we want to protect adolescents from poor body image and develop greater resilience online, it won’t just require stricter algorithmic regulations. Media literacy, education and a cultural shift towards a body positive movement are necessary.