Every parent needs to watch out for 'kids' YouTube channels with inappropriate content

Read this before you switch on YouTube to keep your child occupied.

By: Naz Haider | | Published: May 11, 2017 12:35 pm

Next time you switch on YouTube for your toddler, so that you can get some work done or attend a pressing matter (like a long overdue shower), think again. The problem with YouTube is that it autoplays the lineup of videos after the video you have selected to watch, and this lineup of videos can be anything. Yes, the suggested videos usually match what you have been watching, cartoons and children-friendly content in this case, but we all know that random content can also crop up. And the most frightening fact is this: there are may channels on YouTube masquerading as kids’ channel but the content is anything but child-friendly. The channels name, thumbnails and even the characters shown as very misleading. The channel names have keywords like ‘toys’, Disney character names, surprise eggs etc., and even the thumbnails are of popular characters like Peppa Pig, Spiderman, Batman, Elsa, Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters. Now to a child, all this facade is enough to be lured in. Once the video starts, things start getting dark and it’s definitely not something suitable for any child’s viewing. There’s childbirth, cutting, blood and gore, and even a lot of violence in many of these videos, which is enough to alarm any parent. Also Read - COVID-19 lockdown increases arguments and conflicts between parents and teenagers

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While you can flag down inappropriate content, and the YouTube app filters content like this, not all content is traceable by the YouTube bots, and a lot of children have watched such disturbing content. As a parent, you are right in getting alarmed and if you are wondering what you can do, then here are some pointers: Also Read - Childhood stress is not uncommon: You just have to know how to deal with it

Try and limit screen-time for your children, and even when they are allowed, make sure it is supervised.
De-select the ‘autoplay’ option on Youtube, so that only your selected video plays, one at a time.
Subscribe to services like Netflix and Amazon Prime that have child-friendly and age-appropriate content. Even with autoplay, you can be at peace that nothing untoward will come on screen. This is what I do.

Image: Youtube

Published : May 11, 2017 12:35 pm

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