14 DAY TRIAL // YouTube has been getting a lot of backlash over some of the content hosted on the platform, and this time around they're in hot water over content dedicated to children.
According to BBC Trending, many YouTube videos that appear to be dedicated to small children actually contain violent or terrifying imagery. There are many channels dedicated exactly to this type of content and there are millions of views already, indicating just how popular they are.
This isn't exactly a new issue since the topic has been discussed before as journalist Laura June stumbled upon a "Peppa Pig" video with her three-year-old in which Peppa was drugged by a dentist and had her teeth pulled out while she screamed. This obviously isn't content fitting for a small child.
Other videos feature characters from Frozen, Minions, or Doc McStuffins, or Thomas the Tank Engine, or many other beloved characters. Some videos are parodies, but others are clearly troubling and shouldn't be viewed by small kids.
YouTube Kids does nothing to avoid this kind of content
Normally, YouTube Kids should help users avoid this type of content, but it doesn't. There's an automated filter, so some stuff can be excluded, but since some of these videos look so much like the authentic animation, they fly under the radar.
YouTube recommends enabling the Restricted Mode to help eliminate some of the questionable content, but even that may not be sufficient. Therefore, the best recommendation is not to let kids watch YouTube on their own, if possible.
"Flagged videos are manually reviewed 24/7 and any videos that don't belong in the app are removed within hours. For parents who want a more restricted experience, we recommend that they turn off the Search feature in the app," YouTube said regarding its Kids' app.
Some of the videos the BBC flags in its article have already been deleted, but other remain available for everyone to see.