Most young people who encounter self-harm content online have not actively sought it out, according to new research from the University of Oxford. The study found that nearly three-quarters of adolescents aged 11 to 18 who viewed such content did so unintentionally, largely because it was suggested by platform algorithms.
The findings, published in the journal Nature Mental Health, are based on analysis of data from the 2025 OxWell Student Survey in England, which included 32,102 students. Approximately one-third of these adolescents reported seeing self-harm content in the previous month. Of that group, 72 percent encountered it without searching, with 66.2 percent of those exposures occurring through social media feeds where content was suggested by algorithms.
Lead author Dr. Holly Bear noted that "self-harm content" can encompass a range of material, including supportive posts about recovery journeys. However, she emphasized that with a significant portion of adolescents exposed, many are likely encountering potentially harmful material.
The study concludes that reducing harm necessitates a public health approach to limit passive exposure driven by algorithms. It also calls for tailored strategies to support the smaller group of adolescents who actively engage with such content. The researchers stress the importance of coordinated action involving adolescent digital literacy, platform design, and regulatory enforcement.
These findings emerge as policy discussions around social media and youth safety intensify globally. France recently became the first European country to approve a social media ban for individuals under 15, set to take effect in September, with existing accounts to be deleted in January. In the UK, a ban on certain social media for those under 16 is anticipated by spring.
However, organizations like the Molly Rose Foundation, established in memory of a teenager who died by suicide after viewing harmful online content, have raised concerns that bans alone may not address underlying product safety issues, such as algorithms pushing distressing material. Dr. Bear reiterated that the research highlights the need to focus on platform algorithms and the systems that determine content delivery to young people.
Professor Mina Fazel, chairwoman of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Oxford, stated that exposure to self-harm content is a common experience for many adolescents online. She stressed that platforms must urgently address harmful content and how it is accessed, emphasizing their role in minimizing risks. Fazel also underscored the importance of educating young people about how algorithms work and influence their online experience, noting that this is support adolescents themselves have requested.