The Molly Rose Foundation has published new research on social media algorithms and young people’s exposure to harmful content online. The research involved an analysis of content on Instagram and TikTok through accounts registered as a 15-year-old UK girl. Findings show: the platforms continue to algorithmically recommend substantial volumes of harmful content to teens; high-risk design choices such as recommended search terms and AI generated search prompts continue to exacerbate the potential for cumulative harm; and algorithms continue to enable harmful content to achieve high levels of reach. Among other recommendations, the report calls on Ofcom to substantially revisit the scope and ambition of its regulatory approach.
Read the report: Suicide and self-harm content still recommended ‘at industrial scale’ by TikTok and Instagram eight years after Molly’s death
Source: Molly Rose Foundation
Date published: 19 August 2025
