YouTube to Restrict Fitness Content for European Teens Due to Mental Health Concerns

YouTube has announced that it will limit access to certain health and fitness-related videos for teenagers in Europe, particularly those that idealize specific body types. Similar restrictions were implemented in the U.S. last year, and now they are being expanded to Europe and other regions following recommendations from the Youth and Family Advisory Board.

This measure aims to prevent young people from developing negative beliefs about their appearance. YouTube will limit videos that promote unrealistic fitness levels or weight, compare and idealize specific physical traits, and contain social aggression, bullying, or violent content. The company stated that while such content may seem harmless in isolation, repeated exposure could be problematic for some teenagers.

Social Media’s Impact on Young People’s Mental Health

Findings from 50 studies conducted in 17 countries, published last year, indicate that social media can contribute to body image issues, eating disorders, and mental health problems.

According to experts, people tend to compare themselves to the "idealized" individuals they see online, often perceiving them as unattainably perfect.

This type of content has the greatest impact on women and girls, individuals who struggle with body image and self-confidence, and those who already feel insecure about their appearance. On the other hand, those who feel comfortable in their bodies and have higher levels of media literacy are less affected.

A 2021 study found that fitness YouTubers often promote unhealthy behaviors, which are further reinforced by audience interactions in the comments section.

With the new policy, YouTube will also redirect users searching for content related to suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders to crisis helplines. The platform stated that it is working with German and French organizations to implement these changes.

TikTok Also Facing Criticism

YouTube is not the only platform under fire—TikTok and other social media giants have faced backlash for their impact on youth mental health and well-being. Some countries have even threatened to ban them entirely.

➡️ 14 U.S. states sued TikTok

Recently, TikTok faced a lawsuit led by 14 states, spearheaded by California and New York. Reports claim that leaked internal documents suggest TikTok favors "attractive" content creators, while limiting visibility for users deemed less conventionally attractive.

As a result, many countries have started imposing restrictions on the app.

According to an investigation in Kentucky, TikTok’s algorithm allegedly began prioritizing "more attractive individuals" in user feeds after detecting a high number of less conventionally attractive subjects.

TikTok Bans Around the World

In 2022, TikTok was banned on all U.S. federal government-issued devices. Several other nations followed suit, restricting the app on official government devices, including the EU, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Taiwan, and more.

Most of these bans were implemented after intelligence agencies warned that TikTok could be used for espionage against government officials.

Some countries have gone even further:

• India, Indonesia, Nepal, and Afghanistan have completely banned TikTok—not just for government employees, but for all citizens.

With increasing concerns over social media’s role in mental health and privacy, platforms like YouTube and TikTok are facing stricter regulations worldwide.