An organization that is working to counter hate and disinformation online is raising concerns about the type of videos young people may be seeing on TikTok.

The Centers for Countering Digital Hate set out to test TikTok's algorithm after hearing concerns from parents about what their children are seeing on the platform. The nonprofit organization says it set up eight new accounts in the U.S., U.K, Canada and Australia, and listed the user as 13 years old, the youngest allowed by TikTok.

For the experiment, the accounts briefly watched and liked videos about body image and mental health.

"Within 2.6 minutes, TikTok recommended suicide content. Within 8 minutes, TikTok served content related to eating disorders. Every 39 seconds, TikTok recommended videos about body image and mental health to teens," the organization claims.

The Centers for Countering Digital Hate says some of the videos disclosed information about teens expressing the desire to attempt suicide. Other self-harm videos featured razor blades.

In a statement about the report, a spokesperson said the experiment does not reflect how regular people use the platform.

"This activity and resulting experience does not reflect genuine behavior or viewing experiences of real people," the spokesperson said. "We regularly consult with health experts, remove violations of our policies, and provide access to supportive resources for anyone in need. We're mindful that triggering content is unique to each individual and remain focused on fostering a safe and comfortable space for everyone, including people who choose to share their recovery journeys or educate others on these important topics."

TikTok's Community Guidelines state that it does not allow content "depicting, promoting, normalizing, or glorifying activities that could lead to suicide, self-harm, or disordered eating." It vowed to remove content cited in the report that violated its Community Guidelines.

While TikTok acknowledges it will not catch every piece of content that violates its guidelines, it says it has a team of more than 40,000 safety professionals who are responsible for helping keep the platform safe.

TikTok says from April to June of this year, more than 90% of content that violated policies for suicide and self-harm was removed before there was a single view.

Still, the Centers for Countering Digital Hate believes more should be done to protect teens from dangerous content. It created a guide for parents to help them understand the potential problems on TikTok. It's also pushing policymakers to force social media companies to be more transparent about their algorithms and economic incentives. In addition, the organization believes companies should be held accountable when they fail to enforce policies that are aimed at stopping harm.

TikTok launched what it calls an industry-leading Transparency Center two years ago. The company says it regularly publishes transparency reports to hold itself accountable.

Even if you aren't gifted athletically or you hate all things involving exercise, reams of research shows physical activity is critical to good health. "Exercise is key, because your life depends on it," said Howard Rankin, a behavior change researcher and director of science at Intuality, Inc.That's no exaggeration. Establishing a regular workout regimen slashes your risk of heart disease and stroke, Type 2 diabetes, and certain forms of cancer, such as breast, colon and lung, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Exercising also strengthens your bones and muscles, improves sleep, and lessens the pain from arthritis and other joint conditions. And there's more.Regular physical activity is great at combating anxiety and depression, Rankin said, and it's critical for the development of new brain cells. Movement also helps balance brain chemicals like endorphins and dopamine, which are responsible for motivation and feeling energetic, and it's a great stress buster. Consistent exercise even improves your sex life, according to experts at Mayo Clinic.Conversely, ignore exercise and your risk of death soars 20% to 30% compared to those who are active, according to the World Health Organization. Luckily, all you need to do is about 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity — just 21 minutes a day — to enjoy the benefits.Ready to create a workout routine you can stick with and enjoy? Here are four tips you may find beneficial.Important note: Before beginning any new exercise program, consult your doctor. Stop immediately if you experience pain.1. Make exercising a regular part of your dayDecide exercise has to be a regular part of your day, like eating or sleeping — because it's equally important. Once your mindset shifts, your excuses may disappear.You can also schedule your workouts ahead of time if you can't always exercise at the same time every day. Setting a specific time for working out can help you keep on task. If you can't find one big block of time, break up your workout into several shorter segments to complete throughout the day. Experts say this is fine, as you'll reap the same benefits.2. Start slowly, and give your new routine timeDon't do too much, too soon. If you want to try running, don't go out and run 3 miles as fast as you can. Alternate running a block or a minute with walking a block or a minute for just 1 mile and build from there. This same principle applies to any new activity you select.And give your new activity time, as it takes a while for a new behavior to become a habit."I can't tell you how many people give up after a week or two because it feels hard or they aren't seeing results," said Tami Smith, a certified personal trainer and CEO of Fit Healthy Momma. "Give yourself a chance to begin to see and feel the benefits. Commit to at least 30 days of consistency and then evaluate how you're feeling about it."3. Find a form of exercise you like doingNot everyone will get into running. Try a variety of exercises and see what suits you. It might be running, swimming, biking, using an elliptical machine, or a taking a kickboxing class. Or you might prefer working out to a video or dancing in your living room. It's all movement, and that's all good.Remember, too, that many simple activities like walking promote physical fitness. "The term 'exercise' can imply rigorous workouts, but movement doesn't have to be rigorous to be beneficial," Rankin said. "Any movement is better than no movement."The more you enjoy exercising, the more confidence you'll have that you can overcome any barriers to exercise, which means you'll be more likely to stick with your regime, according to a 2015 study by Beth Lewis, director of the University of Minnesota's School of Kinesiology. "The key to maintaining exercise is to find an exercise routine that you enjoy, whether it is alone or with people; outside, at home or at a gym."4. Ramp up the fun factorEven if you find an exercise you enjoy, not every workout will be fun. Sometimes you'll be tired or cranky or just not in the mood to work out. You can also get in a rut, where you don't necessarily dislike your workout, but it doesn't excite you, either. This is when it's time to get creative.Instead of working out at the gym, drive to your favorite park for an al fresco exercise session. Join a friend in their favorite activity. Sign up for a class that's piqued your interest, like aqua yoga or Pilates. Treat yourself to some new workout clothes. Do whatever it takes to stay in motion. Because not only is movement good for us, it's what our bodies are designed to do."We are built to move," said Brett Durney, cofounder of London's Fitness Lab, a private personal training studio. "Those of us who are blessed enough to be able to move freely should reap the benefits daily."

WASHINGTON —

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene apologized Monday for affronting people with recent comments comparing the required wearing of safety masks in the House to the horrors of the Holocaust.

"I'm truly sorry for offending people with remarks about the Holocaust," the Georgia Republican told reporters outside the Capitol, saying she had visited Washington's U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum earlier in the day. "There's no comparison and there never ever will be."

Greene's comments were a rare expression of regret by the conservative agitator, a freshman whose career has included the embrace of violent and offensive conspiracy theories and angry confrontations with progressive colleagues.

Her apology came more than three weeks after appearing on a conservative podcast and comparing COVID-19 safety requirements adopted by Democrats controlling the House to "a time and history where people were told to wear a gold star." She said they were "put in trains and taken to gas chambers in Nazi Germany. This is exactly the type of abuse that Nancy Pelosi is talking about."

Her comments were condemned by Republican leaders, including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who called the comparison "appalling."

GOP leaders have often been reluctant to castigate Greene, a close ally of former President Donald Trump. After social media posts were unearthed in which Greene suggested support for executing some Democratic leaders, McCarthy and most Republicans stood by her when the House took the unusual step of stripping her of her committee assignments in February.

But as House members returned to the Capitol on Monday after a three-week break, Greene was contrite.

"Anti-Semitism is true hate," she said. "And I saw that today at the Holocaust Museum."

In 2018, two years before her election to Congress, she speculated on Facebook that California wildfires may have been caused by "lasers or blue beams of light" controlled by a left-wing cabal tied to a powerful Jewish family.

On Monday, she told reporters that when she was 19, she visited the site of the Auschwitz concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Poland. "It isn't like I learned about it today," she said of the Holocaust, in which 6 million Jews and huge numbers of other people were killed. "I went today because I thought it was important," she said, and wanted to talk about it as she apologized.

House leaders have recently said vaccinated people no longer must wear masks in the chamber.