YouTube Restricts Health And Fitness Video Recommendations For Teens To Combat Negative Body Image
The thoughts, perceptions, beliefs, and almost everything are now being shaped by the content that we are consuming directly or indirectly. Some of the content can be inspiring while some also lead to lower self-esteem. YouTube has taken a step to curb this. As per the platform, YouTube will limit the recommendation of health and fitness videos to teenagers, including those which idealise certain body types.
Users from 13 to 17 years old will be able to search and view fitness-related videos though YouTube will not be encouraging users to view such videos repeatedly. YouTube has taken this measure after the finding of the Youth and Families Advisory Committee” teens are more likely than adults to form negative beliefs about themselves when seeing repeated messages about ideal standards in content they consume online.”. This is not the first time when YouTube has taken such measures. It took such steps last year in the US and is now expanding to Europe and around the world based on the guidance of the youth and family advisory committee.
The new rule is an effort to prevent teens from forming “negative beliefs about themselves,” Dr Garth Graham, who heads YouTube Health, and James Beser, YouTube Youth’s director of product management, said in a statement.
YouTube will limit the repeated recommendation of these videos
- Idealise particular fitness levels or weight groups
- Compare and idealise certain physical features, or
- Are socially aggressive, meaning they show intimidation or fighting.
