Real people, real stories: the consequences of online harms

In 2024, we did something new. In addition to researching how social media platforms are enabling and profiting from hate and lies, we reached out directly to people affected by online harms to listen to their stories.  

Anna Mockel, an 18-year-old from Maryland, shared the heartbreaking experience of how she developed an eating disorder after watching harmful “thinspo” videos on YouTube – she is now a mental health advocate. Parents told us how worried they are about their kids being on social media. Our researchers interviewed MSI Reproductive Choices’ teams in the Global South and learned how Meta is failing to stop abuse and misinformation targeting health workers. 

These stories aren’t always easy to read, but they paint a picture of how social media and search engine companies are hurting people in different ways. They also make it clear that CCDH’s mission to protect civil liberties and human rights online is more important than ever. 

How YouTube is harming young girls

Anna Mockel was only 14 when she came across “thinspo” content on YouTube for the first time. She was just one year older than the test account we created to simulate the experience of a young girl encountering eating disorder videos on the platform. 

“YouTube became this community of people who are competitive with eating disorders. And it kept me in the mindset that [anorexia] wasn’t a problem because so many other people online were doing the same thing.” – Read CBS article here. 

Our report shows that YouTube doesn’t waste time in recommending eating disorder content after a young girl watches a related video. Anna Mockel found help and recovered from her eating disorder. But how many other teenagers are silently struggling against YouTube-induced issues? 

YouTube must fix its algorithm and stop hurting young people. Agree? Add your name to our letter to YouTube. 

Parents are worried about their kids online

Parents are up against a multi-billion-dollar industry that pulls every trick to keep their children addicted to their platforms – at the expense of kids’ mental health and wellbeing. To amplify their voices, CCDH interviewed parents on the streets of Washington DC and London, and by email.   

One parent told us: “My daughter, 19, is an insecure wreck. She spends hours in bed scrolling on her phone distracted 100% of the time… [They’re becoming] slaves to the scroll. [It’s a] zombie life, stifling any creativity they might have with some headspace.” 

A teacher told us: “As an educator, it is increasingly difficult to counter the misinformation that young people think is ‘news’. Even when factual evidence can show that the Facebook post they are quoting is wrong, unfounded or intended to misguide, it is easier for a young person to dismiss the truth and maintain the lie.” 

Read more interviews in our blog. 

Health workers are being targeted with misinformation online 

In March, CCDH showed that Meta and Google were restricting ads for accurate reproductive care information while failing to act against abortion misinformation and abuse targeted at health workers. To get to these results, our researchers interviewed MSI Reproductive Choices’ local teams in Bangladesh, Ghana, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa and Vietnam. 

Here’s what they told us:  

• The MSI team in Mexico shared the difficulties they have advertising on Meta’s services, stating: “anything we do as MSI is quickly detected, is quickly banned or taken down.”  
• In Kenya, the MSI team reported an “increasing number of negative comments” such as “baby killers” on Facebook (and also X). 
• Inflammatory WhatsApp messages in Ghana claimed that MSI was part of a “satanic” agenda aiming to “destroy the youth” of the country. 

Read our report to learn more. 

What’s next for CCDH? 

In 2025, we will keep showing how social media platforms are hurting real people and undermining our democracy. We will publish more original research and will reach out to those affected by online harms to amplify their voices.  

But that’s not all. We will keep urging governments and lawmakers to implement our STAR Framework for social media reform, requiring these companies to prioritize safety-by-design and transparency while being held accountable and responsible for the harms they cause. 

Everyone should feel safe online, especially young people.  

Want to join us in 2025 to combat online hate and disinformation? Sign up to receive our updates and learn when and how you can take action.