When Algorithms Attack: How Platforms Expose Teens to Disturbing Content

Imagine a teenager mindlessly scrolling through social media before bed. They watch a few dance videos, laugh at some jokes, and then suddenly—without warning—they're confronted with graphic violence, extreme misogyny, or content glorifying self-harm. This isn't a rare glitch or an unfortunate accident. It's the predictable outcome of algorithmic systems designed to maximize engagement at any cost.

Today's teens are the first generation to grow up with social media algorithms that don't just passively show content—they actively shape what young people see, think, and feel. These invisible systems aren't neutral. They're engineered to keep users scrolling, often by serving increasingly extreme and emotionally triggering content. And the consequences for young, developing minds can be devastating.

Recent investigations have revealed a disturbing truth: the very platforms teenagers trust for entertainment and connection are systematically exposing them to harmful content they never asked to see. From violent imagery appearing in Instagram Reels to suicide-related content finding its way to 13-year-olds on TikTok, the digital landscape has become a minefield for young users.

This isn't just about occasional exposure to inappropriate content—it's about sophisticated technological systems deliberately designed to amplify emotional reactions, exploit psychological vulnerabilities, and prioritize engagement metrics over user wellbeing. And for teenagers, whose brains are still developing and who are particularly susceptible to peer influence, the stakes couldn't be higher.

Let's examine how these algorithms really work, what they're doing to our kids, and how we can protect them in an increasingly algorithmic world.

At their core, algorithms are simply sets of rules that determine what content gets shown to users. But modern social media algorithms are far from simple. They're sophisticated systems designed with one primary goal: keeping you scrolling for as long as possible.

Here's how the process typically works:

What sounds like a helpful way to show users content they might enjoy has a dark side: these systems often lead users down increasingly extreme content "rabbit holes."

Many past researches have revealed just how quickly these algorithms can expose teens to harmful material:

A study (2024) by University College London and the University of Kent found that when monitoring TikTok's "For You" page, researchers detected a four-fold increase in misogynistic content over just five days. What began as 13% of recommended videos quickly escalated to 56% as the algorithm detected engagement.

Similarly, Amnesty International's research (2023) discovered that after just 5-6 hours on TikTok, nearly 1 in 2 videos shown to simulated 13-year-old users were potentially harmful mental health-related content – roughly 10 times the volume served to accounts with no interest in mental health.

Perhaps most alarming, it took just 3 to 20 minutes for more than half of the videos in TikTok's "For You" feed to be related to mental health struggles, with multiple videos in a single hour romanticizing, normalizing, or even encouraging suicide.

One of the most troubling aspects of this issue is that teens often don't seek out this content – it finds them. Many young people report being shown violent, graphic, or disturbing content despite having their "Sensitive Content Control" settings at the highest level.

Just recently, Meta (Instagram's parent company) had to apologize for an "error" that resulted in users' Reels feeds being flooded with violent and graphic content that violated their own policies. Users reported seeing content depicting dead bodies, graphic injuries, and violent assaults – all labeled merely as "Sensitive Content."

The consequences of algorithmic exposure to disturbing content are far-reaching:

The impact of algorithmic content exposure isn't confined to the digital world. Researchers have found that harmful ideologies encountered online are increasingly manifesting in real-world behaviors.

School leaders report that misogynistic tropes and harmful attitudes first encountered online have become embedded in mainstream youth culture, affecting how students interact with each other. What begins as content on a screen can quickly transform into real-world harassment, bullying, or dangerous behaviors.

Despite growing evidence of harm, many platforms have been slow to address these issues – and, in some cases, have actively rolled back protections.

Meta recently announced plans to update its moderation policies to focus primarily on "illegal and high-severity violations" while reducing its focus on less severe policy violations. The company has also cut thousands of jobs, which has affected its trust and safety teams.

This highlights a fundamental tension: the very algorithms that expose teens to harmful content are also the ones that drive engagement – and profit. When platforms prioritize engagement metrics above all else, user safety becomes secondary.

Addressing this crisis requires action on multiple fronts:

The challenges posed by algorithmic content exposure are significant but not insurmountable. By bringing greater transparency to how these systems work and holding platforms accountable for the content they amplify, we can create a safer online environment for teens.

Our teens deserve digital spaces that enrich their lives rather than exploit their vulnerabilities. It's time we demand better from the platforms that shape their digital experiences.