YouTube Tightens Guidelines on Eating Disorder Content

YouTube is taking a stricter stance against content related to eating disorders on its platform. The video-sharing site, owned by Google, announced on Tuesday that it would update its guidelines to ban content that may encourage users to imitate dangerous behaviors associated with nutritional disturbances. This move builds on existing policies that remove materials glorifying or promoting these disorders.

The updated guidelines will target content that could potentially lead users to adopt harmful practices such as purging after eating or excessively limiting calorie intake. In addition, YouTube will also focus on prohibiting materials that may prompt at-risk users to engage in behaviors like weight-based bullying within the context of eating disorders.

These changes come as part of YouTube's ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of its users. The platform has long been committed to removing content that can be harmful, and this update seeks to further refine its approach to addressing eating disorder-related content.

However, videos that center on eating disorder recovery or provide sufficient educational, documentary, scientific, or artistic context (EDSA) may still be allowed on the platform. These videos may be subject to age restrictions and/or feature a crisis resource panel to provide support and information to those who may be struggling with nutritional disturbances.

With this update, YouTube aims to strike a balance between allowing content that can be helpful and informative while preventing the promotion and glorification of harmful behaviors associated with eating disorders. By refining its guidelines, the platform is taking a proactive approach to protecting its users' well-being and fostering a safe environment for all.