


YouTube is user-uploaded, so not everything is categorized with the appropriate restrictions. How does this happen? The content is almost impossible to monitor. “A child has the ability to jump from a harmless video, for example, about birds, to a video with adult content all within a matter of seconds,” says psychotherapist and NYC group practice owner Liz Morrison. But here’s the problem: The videos keep autoloading (and autoloading), and, eventually, your child may be face-to-face with something completely unrelated - and inappropriate - to the original search.
YOUTUBE KIDS HOW TO
Knitting, baking, how to make a killer friendship bracelet - there’s an endless number of legitimate tutorials on YouTube. No doubt about it: You can learn about a lot of things - and how to do a lot of things - on YouTube. There’s inappropriate content all over the site Here are nine ways the video platform can be dangerous for kids. Have a kid who’s obsessed with YouTube? You may want to break the habit. While the company has the right to take something down or flag it as adult content, that doesn’t always happen before a child is exposed to something that can negatively affect them.” “YouTube can be a lot of fun, but it’s no place for kids - of any age - to roam alone,” says Lori Getz, a cyber education consultant and author of “The Tech Savvy User’s Guide to the Digital World.” “Content on YouTube is user-created, which means anyone can put anything they want on the site. (Note: YouTube says the site is for kids 13 and up and there is a YouTube Kids platform that provides enhanced parental controls.)īut the million-dollar question is whether kids watching YouTube regularly is a safe or problematic activity. According to a 2018 Pew Research Center study, 81% of parents with kids age 11 and under say they “never” allow their child to watch YouTube videos, while 34% of parents say their child regularly watches content on YouTube. Version 3.0 is rolling out today via the Play Store.Whether you’re the parent of a teenager with their own smartphone or have a curious preschooler under your roof, there’s a good chance YouTube plays a role in your family’s screen time. Since its launch, YouTube Kids is now live in 37 countries with more than 70 billion views in the app and more than 11 million weekly active viewers.

For example, younger kids will get a less text-heavy UI, while older ones will see more content on their home screens.įor parents, a new setup screen will provide more detailed information at the start to make the “right choices for your family before your kids use the app.” Fortunately, parents can easily override them in case codes are misremembered.Īs a result of knowing ages, YouTube Kids will adapt the user interface.
YOUTUBE KIDS CODE
These accounts work across devices and feature a pass code to prevent siblings from viewing accounts that are not their own.

The new experience starts with “kid profiles” that ask for a child’s birthdate and can be customized with an avatar. It is also adding profiles for kids that allow for better personalization. Launched two years ago, it is seeing a refresh today that brings a “tailored” interface that adapts to a kid’s age. YouTube Kids is Google’s child-optimized and friendly interface to its video network.
