Videos aimed at children on YouTube and YouTube Kids are secretly hiding suicide tips, it has been revealed.
Minutes into one clip a man appears on screen offering instructions on how to take your own life.
The sickening discovery was made by Free Hess, a paediatrician and mum.
One video on YouTube shows a man suggesting the best way to self-harm.
Speaking to the Washington Post, Dr Hess said: “I think it’s extremely dangerous for our kids.
“I think our kids are facing a whole new world with social media and Internet access. It’s changing the way they’re growing, and it’s changing the way they’re developing. I think videos like this put them at risk.”
Another video appears to include a spliced-in scene showing internet personality Filthy Frank.
His fans have been known to put him in memes and other videos.
Filthy Frank who has more than six million subscribers calls himself "the embodiment of everything a person should not be".
On the clip he’s seen making cutting motions on his arm, telling viewers to "end it" and explaining the best way to ensure a suicide attempt works, CBS News reports.
The clip was edited to appear in the middle of a kids’ cartoon. There is no suggestion Filthy Frank was behind the upload or edited video.
It is not known who uploaded the sick clips – with YouTube sometimes leaving them up for days until they are taken down.
After she blogged about it, YouTube removed the clip.
"Once you start looking into it, things get darker and weirder," said Dr Hess. "I don’t understand how it’s not getting caught."
Andrea Faville, a spokeswoman for YouTube, said in a written statement the company works to ensure that it is “not used to encourage dangerous behavior and we have strict policies that prohibit videos which promote self-harm.”
“We rely on both user flagging and smart detection technology to flag this content for our reviewers,” Faville added.
Dr Hess, who also blogs on child cyber safety under the PediMom, said: "Exposure to videos, photos and other self-harm and suicidal promoting content is a huge problem that our children are facing today.
"We need to fight to have the developers of social media platforms held responsible when they do not assure that age restrictions are followed."
If you need to speak to someone, Samaritans are available 24/7 by calling 116 123 or by emailing [email protected]
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