YouTube is limiting movies about weight and look for teenagers

YouTube is adjusting its algorithm to limit movies displaying non-violent aggression and idealized bodily appearances from being promoted to youngsters on the platform. In a brand new weblog submit, YouTube says that such content material “could also be innocuous as a single video” but it surely might “be problematic for some teenagers if seen repetitively.”

The restrictions purpose to stop youthful customers from falling into dangerous “rabbit gap” content material pipelines with out stopping them from viewing such movies fully, as many are compliant with YouTube’s content material tips. “Teenagers are extra seemingly than adults to kind detrimental beliefs about themselves when seeing repeated messages about splendid requirements in content material they eat on-line,” YouTube mentioned.

The brand new safeguards are being launched globally, and apply to content material that compares or idealizes sure bodily options, weight, and health over others, or shows “social aggression” like intimidation and non-contact fights. The restrictions additionally apply to make-up tutorials for altering the looks of somebody’s nostril or eye form, or health movies selling muscular or slim physiques. 

“A better frequency of content material that idealizes unhealthy requirements or behaviors can emphasize doubtlessly problematic messages — and people messages can affect how some teenagers see themselves,” mentioned Allison Briscoe-Smith, a researcher on YouTube’s Youth and Households Advisory Committee. “Guardrails might help teenagers keep wholesome patterns as they naturally examine themselves to others and dimension up how they need to present up on this planet.”