YouTube altering insurance policies on content material associated to consuming issues

YouTube is altering its insurance policies on content material associated to consuming issues, the video-sharing platform introduced on Tuesday.

The corporate will replace its strategy to the content material within the coming weeks with seek the advice of from third-party specialists “to create house for neighborhood, restoration and assets, whereas defending viewers,” based on a release.

“As a result of individuals come to our platform with distinctive experiences, the identical video can have an effect on individuals in numerous methods. A video a few creator’s consuming dysfunction restoration journey will help begin a vital dialog for some that makes them really feel much less alone, however could also be triggering for others,” YouTube mentioned.

The corporate has current insurance policies geared at taking down content material that “glorifies or promotes” consuming issues, it mentioned, however will now transfer to restrict content material that features “imitable habits” that at-risk viewers might copy. Examples cited within the launch embody disordered consuming like extreme calorie restriction, “purging” after consuming and “weight-based bullying within the context of consuming issues.”

Consuming disorder-related movies with “instructional, documentary, scientific or inventive context” or movies that debate the issues within the context of restoration might nonetheless be left up underneath the tweaked tips, however is likely to be tagged with a “disaster useful resource panel” together with hyperlinks to psychological well being data.

The uploads may also be put behind an 18+ age restriction. “For instance, we might age-restrict movies the place a creator particulars disordered consuming behaviors they’ve engaged in whereas sharing their restoration journey,” the discharge says.

The adjustments had been made in seek the advice of with Nationwide Consuming Dysfunction Affiliation and different teams, YouTube mentioned. They arrive amid ongoing discourse in regards to the impression of social media on psychological well being, particularly for younger usersand issues about how diet culture and disordered eating content is circulated on-line.