YouTube’s decision to limit access to health and fitness videos for teenagers is a “step in the right direction,” according to a leading online safety charity. 

While teens aged 13 to 17 will still have access to these videos, YouTube’s algorithm will no longer recommend similar content after viewing, aiming to reduce repetitive exposure.

The types of videos targeted are those that idealise particular fitness levels, body weights and physical features.

CyberSafeKids CEO Alex Cooney said fitness videos have become problematic for teens in Ireland.

“This is one of the types of content that is being served up to children and young people using apps like YouTube," she told Newstalk Breakfast.

“I think we understand what it does, and I think the problematic bit of it is that it sends users down rabbit holes so that they’re only seeing one type of content over and over again.

"YouTube has obviously listened to advice that maybe it’s not healthy to see the same type of content over and over again, especially if it leads to fixations on how you look.”

'Right direction'

Ms Cooney said that while “it is a step in the right direction,” plenty of other harmful content on the internet is also “problematic.”

“There’s lots of harmful content that needs to be addressed, like self-harm and suicide-type content,” she said.

“There’s eating disorder content. There’s sexual content. There’s violent, terror, and torture-type content.

"There are a lot of different categories of harmful content that we know children are exposed to.”

Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok apps on an iPhone. 2021. Picture by: Koshiro K / Alamy Stock Photo

Ms Cooney said the move from YouTube to change its algorithm for children proves they are capable of improving online safety elsewhere.

“Why not broaden it out?” she said.

“This is an enormously popular app with 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 that much younger users are on it, consuming content on it and sometimes posting content on it.

“I do think there are much broader questions for YouTube and other companies like TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat.”

Ms Cooney added that these companies have data on the impact their content has on young people and called for “greater transparency” to make it publicly available.

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Main image: A teenager watches a fitness video on YouTube. Image: Andia / Alamy Stock Photo