YouTube makes it easier for teens to find informative content about mental health

YouTube announced Tuesday the launch of a new section dedicated to teen-focused mental health and well-being content, making it easier for users ages 13 to 17 to find age-appropriate information on topics like depression, anxiety, ADHD and eating disorders.

When teens search for terms like “depression” in the search bar, a specific row of videos appears at the top of the results. According to YouTube, these videos come from trusted sources and are designed specifically for teen development. The company has collaborated with organizations specializing in mental health and wellbeing information for young people, such as the Child Mind Institute.

This launch signals a move towards making YouTube a trustworthy resource for younger users facing mental health challenges. A 2023 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) survey indicates that 39.7% of students felt persistent sadness and hopelessness, while 28.5% reported poor mental health.

This is a notable addition to the platform because it’s important to reach teens who are already searching for information, such as YouTube, where nine out of 10 teens reported using the platform, according to the Pew Research Center.

Over the years, YouTube has invested in various initiatives to help teens. This includes implementing specific safeguards when recommending certain topics to teens, using age estimation technology to recognize teen users for a more relevant experience, and providing parental controls that allow parents to link their accounts to teen accounts.

The new mental health and wellbeing offering will roll out to users in the US, UK, Canada, Mexico, France and Australia in the coming weeks.