Most platforms are designed to maximize engagement, not safety. Algorithms track what users pause on, watch, or interact with and then recommend more intense or extreme content over time. This means a child can be shown sexualized, violent, or misogynistic material without ever searching for it.
Explaining this to kids helps reduce shame. You might say, “Sometimes the internet shows people things because it keeps them scrolling, not because it’s healthy or appropriate.” Understanding this helps children feel less responsible for what appears on their screen.