Nearly half of teenage girls in the UK are still being exposed to harmful content on social media, despite the introduction of tougher online safety measures designed to protect young people.
Research conducted by the Molly Rose Foundation (MRF) found that 47% of girls aged between 13 and 17 encountered content related to suicide, self-harm or eating disorders during a single seven-day period. Overall, 34% of teenagers reported seeing high-risk material, only slightly lower than the 37% recorded before new online safety regulations came into force last year.
The charity, established in memory of 14-year-old Molly Russell, who died in 2017 after viewing harmful online content, said the findings demonstrate that dangerous material remains widely accessible to children across social media platforms.
The study surveyed 1,825 young people aged 13 to 17 across the UK in April 2026 and was carried out by MEL Research with support from the PSHE Association.
The findings also highlighted significant differences among vulnerable groups. Teenagers reporting low levels of wellbeing were the most likely to encounter harmful content, with 57% affected, while 40% of young people with special educational needs reported similar experiences.
The Online Safety Act introduced additional protections in July 2025, including stricter age verification measures aimed at preventing children from accessing pornography and other harmful online material. Social media platforms are also required to ensure recommendation algorithms do not actively promote content linked to self-harm, suicide or eating disorders to younger users.
Companies found to be in breach of the regulations could face penalties of up to £18 million or 10% of their global annual revenue, whichever is higher. Courts also have the power to block access to services operating in the UK if serious violations occur.
The research comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to announce new restrictions on social media access for under-16s following a major government consultation on online safety. The consultation attracted approximately 116,000 responses, making it one of the largest public consultations ever conducted by the UK government.
Ian Russell, Molly’s father and a leading campaigner for stronger online protections, said the continued exposure of teenagers to harmful content highlights the shortcomings of existing safeguards.
He argued that algorithms remain a significant source of risk, continuing to expose vulnerable young people to damaging material despite promises of reform.
A spokesperson for Downing Street said the government had completed an extensive consultation process and would announce its next steps in due course.
The spokesperson added that the Prime Minister believes current protections do not go far enough and that stronger measures are required to safeguard children online.
Pressure is also mounting from Scotland, where ministers have called on Westminster to take more decisive action against online harms affecting young people.
Scottish Minister for Children Siobhian Brown is due to meet UK AI and Online Safety Minister Kanishka Narayan to discuss further protections. Brown said she would urge the government to act swiftly, including considering restrictions on social media use by children and making greater use of regulatory powers to hold technology companies accountable.
She also backed the idea of a social media levy that would require technology firms to contribute funding towards youth mental health support services.
Separately, new polling by the Institute for Public Policy Research found that the British public remains divided on how social media should be regulated for young people.
The survey of more than 2,000 adults revealed that 51% trust parents to decide which platforms are appropriate for children, while 49% favour oversight from an independent regulator. Trust in schools, technology companies and government ministers was significantly lower.
The polling also found that 44% of respondents support a complete ban on social media access for under-16s, while 39% prefer stricter regulation rather than outright restrictions.
As the debate over online safety intensifies, campaigners argue that stronger action is needed to prevent harmful content from reaching children and to ensure social media platforms are held accountable for the impact their algorithms have on young users.