Center for Countering Digital Hate

We're growing CCDH's Communications and Cultural Impact team with a Creative Manager in the US. This is an exciting opportunity to lead our creative output, shaping how CCDH looks and communicates across campaigns, research, fundraising, websites, and events as we enter our next phase of growth. We're looking for a talented creative with exceptional design and video skills, a strong digital-first mindset, and a passion for creating work that captures attention, sparks conversation, and expands the reach of our mission to build a safer internet for all If this sounds like you, apply here👇 https://lnkd.in/eb9mXAjv

Our "Up Next" report finds that YouTube is still recommending “thinspiration”, extreme calorie deficits, and subliminal weight loss to teen girls.    There’s been some progress in slowing the recommendations of these videos. In 2024, we found that 1 in 3 videos recommended to young girls contained harmful eating disorder content. After the implementation of the UK’s Online Safety Act and the EU’s Digital Services Act this number fell.  

Are you looking to start your career? Join our Public Affairs team through our new internship program in DC. This is an exciting opportunity for a current undergraduate or graduate student to gain hands-on experience at the forefront of technology policy, supporting efforts to hold digital platforms accountable and advance meaningful reform. We're looking for a curious, motivated, and detail-oriented aspiring policy professional with strong research and writing skills, an interest in technology policy and online safety, and a passion for turning complex issues into real-world impact. You'll work alongside experts across Policy, Research, Communications, and Public Affairs, while helping shape advocacy that reaches policymakers, media, and global audiences. If this sounds like you, apply today 👇 https://lnkd.in/eHnu5sRk

We're growing CCDH's Communications and Cultural Impact team with a Communications Manager, Executive Communications and Thought Leadership in the US. This is a unique opportunity to lead our executive communications and thought leadership program, helping expand the global profile and influence of our CEO and senior leaders through speaking engagements, op-eds, podcasts, awards, and other high-impact opportunities. We're looking for an exceptional writer and strategic communicator with experience building executive profiles, securing thought leadership opportunities, and shaping conversations that drive real-world impact. If this sounds like you, submit your application here👇 https://lnkd.in/e-422by7

After the European Parliament passed the Return Regulation in June, far-right MEPs started chanting “send them back”. The legislation aims to speed up the removal of third-party nationals from the EU. When MEP Abir Al-Sahlani expressed feeling unsafe in the chamber, MEP Sebastian Tynkkynen targeted her on Facebook and Instagram. CCDH researchers studied over 16,000 comments under Instagram and Facebook posts by Al-Sahlani and Tynkkynen about the Return Regulation and found that over 40% of comments included abuse or anti-migrant sentiment. This is a predictable consequence of Meta rolling back safety protections against hate, threats, and harassment in early 2025. Last month, CCDH showed that violent threats against US Members of Congress skyrocketed after Meta rolled back these policies. The normalization of abuse against politicians and vulnerable groups threatens public safety and democracy itself. Meta must comply with the EU Digital Services Act, reinstate safeguards, and curb abuse on its platforms. Read the research: https://lnkd.in/gja6GfgC

Researchers found that even after the introduction of online safety legislation, YouTube is still recommending “thinspiration,” extreme calorie deficits, and subliminal weight loss videos to accounts registered as 13-year-olds in our latest report, "Up Next." Anna Mockel thought her doctors were overreacting when they diagnosed her with anorexia. She was flooded every day with social media content promoting extreme diets and exercise regimens while glamorizing dangerously thin bodies. Although these recommendations fell from 1 in 3 in 2024 to 1 in 9 in 2026, the algorithm continues to push this harmful content. YouTube has the tools to stop recommending harmful content, but is choosing not to and putting young teens at risk. These harms affect real people. If you have encountered harmful body image content on social media, share your story with us to help hold Big Tech accountable: https://lnkd.in/ejsqU-X9

The House just gave Big Tech more power to keep putting profits ahead of kids' safety. Now the Senate has the chance to put people ahead of Big Tech, and we have the power to make sure lawmakers do exactly that. A duty of care means tech companies have to address harms they know their platforms cause, but the House's recent package stripped that protection. Without that provision, Big Tech gets the freedom to keep making design choices that harm kids because those choices make companies more money. That's why we joined more than 60 organizations demanding the Senate include a duty of care. We need laws that stop rewarding features like algorithmic amplification that our research repeatedly shows put profits ahead of people. Kids deserve laws that put their safety, not corporations' profits, first. If you agree, join our campaign: https://lnkd.in/eicg85F4

This week marks a year since Ofcom's Children's Codes came into force under the UK Online Safety Act. The Codes are intend to ensure platforms protect children from harmful content. Before enforcement began, CCDH showed that YouTube's recommendation algorithm rapidly pushed teenage girls towards eating disorder content, including videos promoting extreme diets and ‘thinspiration’. One year on, we repeated the test. Our latest report suggests that regulation drove YouTube to increase protections. But the platform still recommends harmful videos to young people, despite operating under the Children's Codes. The greatest risks to children online don't come from isolated pieces of content. They come from recommendation systems designed to maximize engagement, regardless of hurting vulnerable users. Regulation must address the systems creating harm, not just individual posts. Read the report: https://lnkd.in/eXP6s94f

Are you looking to start your career? Join our Public Affairs team through our new internship program in DC. This is an exciting opportunity for a current undergraduate or graduate student to gain hands-on experience at the forefront of technology policy, supporting efforts to hold digital platforms accountable and advance meaningful reform. We're looking for a curious, motivated, and detail-oriented aspiring policy professional with strong research and writing skills, an interest in technology policy and online safety, and a passion for turning complex issues into real-world impact. You'll work alongside experts across Policy, Research, Communications, and Public Affairs, while helping shape advocacy that reaches policymakers, media, and global audiences. If this sounds like you, apply today 👇 https://lnkd.in/eHnu5sRk

Our latest research finds that YouTube is still recommending dozens of “thinspiration”, extreme calorie deficits, and subliminal weight loss videos to teen girls.     YouTube says they use “crisis resource panels” as a safety measure to protect users from this harmful eating disorder content.