Another week, another story about Youtube kids not removing junk before some kids have seen it. The most recent claim is that videos featuring Paw Patrol characters showed them dying and mourning each other at their graveside. This is obviously a startling discovery for any parent to come across on Youtube but especially when it shows up on an app that has been marketed as being safe for kids. The good news is that updates on YouTube’s review policies may help keep some of that content off the app.
The policy is using Youtube’s existing “restricted-content” feature to protect our kid’s eyes from videos of their favorite characters doing bad things. Restricted content is automatically not allowed on Youtube kids. This means that if a video has been approved to be on Youtube but not for viewers under 18, then it won’t automatically show up on YouTube kids just because it was uploaded to the main site.
Some videos don’t violate our policies, but may not be appropriate for all audiences. In these cases our review team may place an age restriction when we’re notified of the content. Age-restricted videos are not visible to users who are logged out, are under 18 years of age, or have Restricted Mode enabled. – Youtube Help
I am always cautious of trusting apps that use a “restriction” mode because their restrictions are always based on user reports. If enough people see something and flag it as inappropriate then the content is removed. The problem is that people have to see the video, image, or post in the first place. Youtube thought of that too, though, and have a pretty simple solution for YouTube kids. Videos won’t show up on Youtube Kids until a few days after they’ve been uploaded to Youtube’s main site. This, hopefully, will help weed out many of the videos that look like they’re intended for children but truly aren’t.
What Parents Should Know
It’s important to understand how the video streaming services we use filter their content. Youtube Kids recently added profiles and age-based video recommendations to help parents use the app more effectively. Limiting the ability for restricted videos to make money and keeping them off of a logged out, underage, or restricted user’s feed is another major step in the right direction. The best feature, in my opinion, is giving newly uploaded videos a couple of days to be reported before they are put on Youtube Kids.
My advice remains the same when it comes to viewing videos online. Parents should always know what your kids are watching. Keep an eye on what they are doing on their tablet or another screen. Have them use their device nearby where you are or in a common area so that you can hear what they’re watching and even go in and put your own eyes on it every now and then. It isn’t always the most convenient thing to keep checking in on what your kids are watching but it isn’t smart to trust algorithms and the reporting of strangers for our kids’ safety and mental health. Put in the effort. You’ll be glad you did.