Nearly half of all girls in the UK aged 13 to 17 have been exposed to distressing content online within a single week, according to new research from the Molly Rose Foundation. The disturbing statistic – which affects 47% of young females in this age bracket – is part of a broader trend showing that one third of teenagers encounter similar material during the same period.
The findings, based on a survey of 1,825 UK children conducted by MEL Research with support from the PSHE Association in April 2026, suggest that recent online safety measures have had only a marginal impact. Despite provisions introduced last summer to restrict access to harmful content and prevent algorithms promoting self-harm and eating disorders, nearly a third of teenagers are still being exposed.
Children with low wellbeing are particularly vulnerable, with 57% encountering such content, while those with special educational needs are also at greater risk, at 40%. The safety measures implemented in July last year included age checks to restrict access to pornography and other harmful material, as well as requirements for platforms to prevent algorithms from promoting potentially damaging content to young users.
Non-compliance could lead to substantial fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue, along with potential court orders blocking access in the UK. In response to ongoing concerns and a public consultation that garnered 116,000 responses – the second-largest government consultation in history – Keir Starmer is expected to announce a proposed ban next week, which would prevent under-16s from accessing harmful social media sites.
However, Ian Russell, father of Molly Russell who tragically took her own life after viewing harmful online content in 2017, has expressed his dismay at the situation, stating it was "shocking but sadly unsurprising" that millions of teens continue to be shown distressing material. He urged Starmer to address fundamental product safety risks rather than opting for a blanket ban.
A Downing Street spokesperson reaffirmed the government's commitment to protecting children, saying: "The prime minister has been clear that the status quo is not good enough and we need to do more." Meanwhile, the Scottish government has called for more decisive action from Westminster, with Siobhian Brown, the Scottish minister for children, set to meet with UK AI and online safety minister Kanishka Narayan to advocate for urgent measures.