Average time from account creation to first exposure to harmful content — grooming, self-harm, sexual exploitation — across major platforms. Every figure sourced from named published studies using real test accounts.
A 13-year-old hits harmful content on Snapchat in 21 seconds.
Source: Northeastern University / Big Tech's Little Victims — The Algorithm Experiment (February 2026). Test accounts aged 13 were created on major platforms and monitored for time to first harmful content recommendation.
The fastest platform (Snapchat, 21 seconds) delivers harmful content 54× faster than the slowest measured platform (YouTube, 19 minutes). This is not algorithmic error — it is algorithmic design. These platforms optimise for engagement, and harmful content drives engagement.
The Time to Harm™ Index (TTH) is a composite index. Each platform figure is independently sourced from a named published study using real test accounts on live platforms. TeenAegis does not claim these figures represent a single unified study — they represent the best available published evidence for each platform. All studies used age-appropriate test accounts (13–17) and were conducted by credentialed research institutions or investigative journalism organisations. No modelling or interpolation is used. Methodology details are available to litigation partners and institutional licensees.
Guardian AI gives parents real-time intelligence on platform risk — before their child creates an account.