Teenagers can be exposed to violent and disturbing content within just eight minutes of joining social media platforms, according to a new study.
Researchers from anti-cyberbullying charity Cybersmile created accounts posing as 15-year-olds on Instagram and TikTok to examine what content young users are likely to encounter.
What they found was alarming.
Within minutes of signing up, the accounts were exposed to posts containing racism, misogyny, antisemitism, anti-Muslim hate and graphic depictions of violence.
One account was shown content portraying a woman being drugged and kidnapped, while another encountered discriminatory AI-generated material targeting children with Down’s syndrome.
According to the study, three out of four child accounts were exposed to racist content.
The same number were also shown posts that depicted or encouraged violence.
Scott Freeman, CEO of Cybersmile, said some harmful material appeared almost immediately after the accounts were created.
"All of this content is pushed onto users' feeds within minutes, sometimes seconds, of opening an account," he said.
The findings come amid growing concerns about children's online safety and discussions around tighter restrictions on social media use for under-16s.
Mental health experts warn that repeated exposure to harmful content can affect a young person's wellbeing, particularly when it involves violence, discrimination or body image issues.
Sarah Denholme-Parker, a nurse and mother of a 17-year-old daughter, said she worries about the type of content teenagers are exposed to while scrolling online.
"I worry that if she starts watching content about anxiety or body image, she may be led down a dangerous path," she said.
While platforms such as Instagram and TikTok have introduced safety features for younger users, experts argue that harmful content can still find its way onto children's feeds.
Many believe the challenge is not just about restricting access, but also ensuring young people have the tools and support needed to navigate online spaces safely.