TikTok algorithms and eating disorder content risks

A research study examines how TikTok’s ‘For You’ feed facilitates access to eating-disorder-related content, potentially exposing vulnerable adolescents to harmful material through normal platform usage.

The findings suggest that algorithmic recommendations, repeated content delivery, search paths, and trend logics interact with individual vulnerabilities to increase visibility of such content. To address these risks, the study proposes ‘online streetwork’ as a method to provide low-threshold, transparent, and voluntary support services that connect at-risk youth to protected help pathways within digital social spaces.