YouTube Restricts Fitness Video Recommendations for Teens to Combat Body Image Issues

YouTube has announced new measures to limit the recommendations of certain health and fitness videos to teenagers, responding to concerns that repeated exposure to content idealizing specific body types may harm young people’s self-esteem. While teens aged 13 to 17 will still be able to search for and view fitness content, the platform will no longer encourage continuous viewing of similar videos through its recommendation system.

The restrictions will apply to videos that compare physical features, idealize certain fitness levels or body weights, or promote social aggression, such as non-contact fights and intimidation. YouTube says these changes are in response to findings from its Youth and Families Advisory Committee, which highlighted that teens are more susceptible than adults to developing negative self-beliefs from repeated exposure to idealized body standards.

Experts have welcomed the move but caution that it should be part of a broader conversation about health and fitness for young people. Dr. Petya Eckler, a senior lecturer at the University of Strathclyde, supports the measure, citing the link between social media usage and body image issues among teens.

However, the effectiveness of this initiative relies on users being logged into YouTube accounts with accurate age information, as the platform does not have a way to verify the age users claim to be. Despite these limitations, the move marks a step toward addressing the impact of online content on young people’s mental health and body image perceptions.