What I Wish I’d Never Seen

Algorithms are regularly exposing us to body dysmorphia, self-harm, and more — with dangerous effects. Up Next, our latest report, shows 1 in 9 YouTube videos recommendations to young girls contain harmful eating disorder content.

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Stories shared with CCDH:

Anna Mockel was 14 when she started watching videos about losing weight on YouTube. The more she watched, the more the algorithms recommended harmful content. Until one day, her "Up Next” tab was flooded with videos glorifying skeletal bodies and extreme diets.

"YouTube became this community of people who are competitive with eating disorders. And it kept me in the mindset that [anorexia] wasn't a problem because so many other people online were doing the same thing."

Anna is now an eating disorder policy advocate.