YouTube is limiting videos about weight and appearance for teens
Content showing intimidation and non-violent aggression is also being restricted. | Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
YouTube is adjusting its algorithm to restrict videos showing non-violent aggression and idealized physical appearances from being promoted to teenagers on the platform. In a new blog post, YouTube says that such content “may be innocuous as a single video” but it could “be problematic for some teens if viewed repetitively.”
The restrictions aim to prevent younger users from falling into harmful “rabbit hole” content pipelines without preventing them from viewing such videos entirely, as many are compliant with YouTube’s content guidelines. “Teens are more likely than adults to form negative beliefs about themselves when seeing repeated messages about ideal standards in content they consume online,” YouTube said.
The new safeguards are...