TikTok self-harm study results ‘every parent’s nightmare’

Research suggests algorithm promotes self-harm and eating disorder content within minutes of interest being shown

TikTok's recommendation algorithm pushes self-harm and eating disorder content to teenagers within minutes of them expressing interest in the topics, research suggests.

The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) found that the video-sharing site will promote content including dangerously restrictive diets, pro-self-harm content and content romanticising suicide to users who show a preference for the material, even if they are registered as under-18s.