YouTube has announced changes to its community guidelines for handling content related to eating disorders, as the social media platforms come under increased scrutiny due to their impact on the mental health of young users.
The new policy will build on YouTube’s existing rules that prohibit content that “glorifies or promotes” eating disorders, the Google-owned streaming platform announced in a blog post.
Disorder content that exhibits “imitational behaviour,” such as vomiting after eating, severe calorie restrictions, weight-based harassment and eating disorders, is also prohibited.
YouTube said it would take context into account when making the decision to remove videos. It will also still allow educational, documentary, scientific or artistic content about eating disorders, subject to some restrictions.
Educational or technical content about eating disorders may still not be suitable for all ages, and YouTube may restrict viewing to those 18 or older.
In addition, the eating disorder information videos will also feature a “crisis resource board” that will provide access to mental health resources for users dealing with eating disorders.
The platform explains that its new policies were developed in partnership with groups like National Eating Disorders Association (nada), Eating disorders and theLucha Association Against Bulimia and Anorexia (aloba).
A video of a YouTube creator detailing his past experience with an eating disorder and specific behaviors related to it, while discussing his recovery, is cited as an example of a type of video that is always allowed on YouTube. platform, but will have age restrictions. In the blog post, the Dr. Garth GrahamDirector of YouTube Health, “A video about an eating disorder content creator’s recovery journey can help start an essential conversation for some, who will feel less lonely, but it can be motivating for others.”
YouTube’s new rules come as the company and other social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok come under increased scrutiny from lawmakers over their impact on young users. In 2021, A.J Wall Street Journal An investigative report reveals that Instagram’s parent company, Facebook (now Meta), was aware of the platform’s negative mental health effects among its teenage users, especially younger girls. US Senator’s Office Richard Blumenthal Created a fake Instagram profile pretending to be a 13-year-old girl and found that the platform recommended content ” [glorifient] Eating disorders and self-harm.” Aside from scrutiny over its handling of user data, TikTok has also faced questions regarding the content it provides to its young users. Congressman from Wisconsin Mike Gallagher, who chairs China’s House of Representatives selection committee, recently called the video-sharing app a “digital fentanyl” for teenagers. YouTube has also come under scrutiny: Mike Blumenthal noted that the account set up by his office made it easier to find and watch videos about “crazy diets and eating disorders,” and that he would then start receiving recommendations for similar videos.
Translated article from the American magazine Forbes – Author: Siladitya Ray
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