YouTube Kids is a lie and I'm tired of pretending it's not

Dec 71 min read

Am I the only one who feels like YouTube Kids is just... not actually that safe? Yeah it filters out some stuff but my 5yo keeps finding videos of people opening random toys and it's absolute garbage content. Plus the ads are weirdly targeting him with stuff I don't want him seeing. And don't even get me started on the "Elsagate" type weird content that still somehow gets through.

We switched to Just For Kids Network and honestly it's SO much better but way fewer videos. Anyone found a actually good alternative?

12 comments245 views

Comments(12)

HHugh S.RegularDec 8

the fact that 'safe' is in quotes is because YouTube Kids IS technically safer than regular YouTube but like... compared to what? actual garbage vs pure garbage? your bar for your kid should be higher than 'less bad than regular youtube'

HHank W.RegularDec 8

not unpopular at all. most parents figure this out after a month of their kid asking for the same unboxing video 47 times. YouTube Kids is a marketing thing so google can say they made a 'kid-friendly' product while still monetizing kids' attention

PPat H.New DadDec 9

lol 'absolute garbage' is generous. those toy opening videos are hypnotic garbage specifically designed to keep kids watching. youtube's algorithm doesn't care if it's educational - it cares if it gets watch time. YouTube Kids is just the regular algorithm with less violent stuff

KKarl J.RegularDec 9

YouTube Kids is basically YouTube with a filter that catches SOME stuff. people act like it's a walled garden but it's really just... less bad. you're right to be tired of pretending. the random toy opening videos are vapid but honestly lower on my concern list

CChris F.RegularDec 10

the real issue with YouTube Kids is it still heavily promotes engagement-optimized content over actually good stuff for kids. you could find the good channels manually but then why use YouTube Kids at all? at that point just set parental controls on regular YouTube

JJake M.RegularDec 8

we ditched YouTube Kids and just use regular YouTube with strict filtering + whitelist of actual good channels. took more work upfront but now my kid actually watches educational stuff instead of unboxing videos for 90 minutes. YouTube Kids's 'safety' is theater

JJason K.New DadDec 10

nope you're not alone. we stopped using it at 4 bc my kid was finding the same repetitive unboxing videos and then YouTube would recommend increasingly weird variants. the "safety" features don't mean much when the underlying algorithm is still designed to addict kids.

DDale A.RegularDec 9

Have you tried just... not putting him on YouTube? I know that sounds judgey it's not - genuinely asking if you've explored other options bc your 5yo doesn't need that content anyway. Puffin Rock, Bluey, actual kids programming is designed different.

GGreg W.RegularDec 10

we switched to apple tv+ kids section and honestly it's night and day. actual shows, no algorithm trying to keep him watching forever. yeah we pay but so worth it to not have to police what he's watching every 5 minutes.

PPete Y.RegularDec 10

YouTube Kids is absolutely not the sanitized version of YouTube people think it is. The algorithm still pushes garbage unboxing content and weird stuff bc it gets engagement. We basically gave up and switched to actual kids' apps where there's actual human moderation.

LLiam S.RegularDec 10

The unboxing video rabbit hole is REAL. Kid watched like two and suddenly that's all the algorithm showed. It's not really a kid problem it's a youtube problem - their algorithm doesn't care if content is good for kids, just if kids watch it. YouTube Kids is honestly just regular youtube with less profanity.

PPat H.New DadDec 10

The filtering works on like 60% of what gets through. Add in that the unboxing videos are hypnotic garbage designed by people who know exactly how to exploit kid attention... YouTube Kids is just a liability at this point. I'd rather pay for a real service.