Social media platforms continue to expose teenagers to harmful content related to suicide, self-harm and depression, despite new UK online safety laws, according to a study by the Molly Rose Foundation. Researchers created dummy accounts posing as a 15-year-old girl and engaged with such posts, prompting algorithms to flood the accounts with harmful material on Instagram Reels and TikTok’s For You page.
The analysis found that 97% of recommended videos on Instagram Reels and 96% on TikTok were harmful. Over half (55%) of harmful TikTok recommendations referenced suicide or self-harm ideation, while 16% mentioned suicide methods, including some previously unknown to researchers. The content reached vast audiences, with one in ten harmful TikTok videos liked at least one million times.
Andy Burrows, chief executive of the Molly Rose Foundation, said: “Harmful algorithms continue to bombard teenagers with shocking levels of harmful content, and on the most popular platforms for young people this can happen at an industrial scale.” He added that since the charity’s last research two years ago, “the scale of harm has still not been properly addressed, and on TikTok the risks have actively got worse.”
The research, conducted between November 2024 and March 2025, noted that while platforms enabled negative feedback on content as required by Ofcom under the Online Safety Act, this also allowed positive feedback, leading to more harmful recommendations. The report criticised narrow definitions of harm and highlighted that platforms profit from advertising adjacent to harmful posts, including for brands popular with teenagers and UK universities.
An Ofcom spokesperson said: “Change is happening. Since this research was carried out, our new measures to protect children online have come into force. These will make a meaningful difference to children – helping to prevent exposure to the most harmful content, including suicide and self-harm material.” Technology Secretary Peter Kyle added that 45 sites are under investigation and that Ofcom is considering stronger measures, including proactive technology to protect children.
TikTok and Meta disputed the findings. A TikTok spokesperson said the platform has over 50 features for teen safety and that “the findings don’t reflect the real experience of people on our platform.” A Meta spokesperson said: “We disagree with the assertions of this report and the limited methodology used to reach these conclusions.”
