Google & YouTube Remove Offensive Content

Since 2001 ANAD has been recruiting volunteers called "Internet Guardians" to help flag and remove thousands of pro-ana and pro-mia websites. This program has recently gotten the attention of Google and YouTube.

YouTube Responds Quickly

YouTube is an online video channel that is particularly popular with teens, college students, and young adults—three age groups that are often at a particular risk for developing anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. This spring, Darcy Gans, ANAD's Associate Director of Media Relations and Director of the Internet Guardian Program, became personally concerned about several YouTube videos, which promoted and encouraged eating disorders.

Gans reported her concerns to YouTube, citing the URL codes for several of the most disturbing pro-ana and pro-mia video productions. In a matter of hours, she received an e-mail from YouTube assuring her that these videos had been removed and commending her for her ongoing efforts to flag inappropriate productions.

Google Acknowledges Glitch

Another recent development was the discovery of a technological glitch in Google's AdSense program. Google Ad Targeting was linking an eating disorder recovery site for anorexics with advertising that promotes "How to Lose 42 lbs in 3 Months, Anorexia Weight Loss Tips, and Top Ten Anorexia Sites." ANAD immediately contacted Google to inform someone at the company of this problem. However, after more than two weeks of phone calls and emails by ANAD staff, nothing was done by Google to fix the problem.

That's when ANAD posted the article titled "Ads by Google Tell Anorexics How to Lose 42 Lbs in 3 Months" on their website and asked visitors to send an email to Google asking that something be done about this glitch. ANAD staff also alerted Internet Guardians and friends asking them to email Google.

Less than 48 hours after the article was posted, Google sent an email apologizing for the target ad and explaining that the advertising system is automatic. ANAD was told that the advertisers targeting weight loss programs are occasionally linked to eating disorders recovery sites and that Google is working to fix the problem. The Google AdSense team regretted the error and recommended anyone with similar concerns should send an email to adsense-support@google.com.

ANAD (National Association of Anorexia and Related Disorders) is a non-profit corporation that seeks to alleviate the problems of eating disorders. Prospective Internet Guardians should contact Darcy Gans at ANAD at anadspeaks@aol.com or at 847-433-3996.