Is the Online Safety Act reducing teens’ exposure to harmful content?

Almost a year on from the Online Safety Act taking effect, MRF research finds that teenagers continue to be exposed to harmful levels of suicide, self-harm, depression and eating disorder content on major social media platforms – with overall levels of exposure having barely changed.

● Over a third (34%) of 13-17 year-olds saw high risk suicide, self-harm, depression or
eating disorder content in the previous week.
● Half of girls (47%) saw high risk content in the previous week.
● Personalised algorithms continue to drive exposure to harmful material.
● Eight years after Molly’s death, teens continue to be exposed to a substantial risk of
cumulative harm.
● Three quarters (76%) of teens who saw high risk content saw it on TikTok,
underscoring the need for urgent regulatory action.

Urgent action is now required to address these deeply disturbing rates of exposure to high risk content. It is time for the Government to introduce a conditional ban on personalised algorithms, and for Ofcom to open an immediate investigation into TikTok’s shortcomings.