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Social media has become a central part of many teenagers’ lives, but recent investigations have raised serious concerns about its impact on young users. A study by journalist Neelam Tailor has uncovered disturbing truths about TikTok, one of the most popular apps among teens. Her research shows that within moments of signing up, teenagers can be exposed to harmful content on their ‘For You’ page. This includes material related to eating disorders, self-harm, and toxic online communities, all driven by TikTok’s algorithm, which aims to keep users engaged for as long as possible while the company earns money from advertisements.
To investigate this issue, Tailor set up two fake accounts: one for a 14-year-old boy named Rami and another for a 13-year-old girl named Angie. Her experiment, which built on similar studies from 2022 and 2024, revealed worrying patterns. Boys like Rami were often shown content linked to dangerous ideologies, such as the so-called ‘incel 2.0’ culture, which spreads negative views on relationships and gender. Girls like Angie, on the other hand, were more likely to encounter videos promoting unhealthy body image or even self-harm. Experts, including Dr. Kaitlyn Regehr from University College London and Imran Ahmed from the Center for Countering Digital Hate, warn that TikTok’s system prioritizes user engagement over safety, putting vulnerable young people at serious risk.
The problem stems from how social media platforms like TikTok operate. Their technology predicts what users might want to watch, often pushing more extreme content to keep them hooked. While this strategy increases profits, it can harm teenagers’ mental health. Although TikTok has promised to improve safety features, critics argue that these efforts fall short of what is needed to protect young users from harmful influences.
These findings have sparked widespread concern. Governments and organizations around the world are facing growing calls to hold social media companies accountable for the content they promote. At the same time, parents are encouraged to keep a closer eye on their children’s online activities and to talk openly about the dangers of social media. The debate continues over who should bear the most responsibility for protecting teenagers in the digital age—tech companies or families.