UK based research group Child Wise conducted research showing that children are watching an average of 3 hours a day watching YouTube videos. Most commonly, they are watching music videos, gaming videos, “funny” real life content, videos showing pets and animals, “how to” videos and sport.
But how appropriate are these videos for children?
This raises the question of how appropriate these videos are for children. It’s hard to tell.
None of this content is “rated” as G, PG, M etc in the same way that commercially produced television has been in the past. And with more than 300 hours of video being uploaded to youtube every minute, external ratings guides like this are going the way of the dinosaur.
This means that as a society and as parents we are going to have to find new ways of monitoring, discussing and – when appropriate – restricting video content for children.
Kirrili from Developing Minds gives us some advice on how to talk to our kids about what they’re watching on YouTube.
Here are four questions for parents and carers to ask children to help start that process.
1. Have you ever seen something on youtube that you wish you hadn’t seen, or something which made you feel worried or uncomfortable?
This question is designed to help us as parents know if children have come across content which we may need to discuss with them. It’s amazing how often children will have seen something disturbing yet not bring it up with us until we ask them directly.
One child I worked with recently saw a video about someone predicting that the world would end on a certain date a few months in the future. He was very frightened that his life was about to end – and yet still didn’t tell any adults about it until directly asked the question listed above.
2. If you DO feel worried, uncomfortable, guilty or scared after watching something on youtube in the future – how likely is it that you would talk to me /your mum/dad/other parental figure?
This question is designed to find out how likely it is our children will actually talk to us if they do see something disturbing – and what we can do about it if they don’t feel comfortable doing so.
I asked one child this question last year. She was adamant she would never talk to mum or dad about any disturbing content she came across because she believed if she did so, they would not let her watch youtube ever again. It was important for us to discuss how she might manage this (how likely this was, how terrible it would be if her parents restricted content, and who else she could talk to).
If your child says “no” or “I don’t know” to the question about whether they would talk with you, possible follow up questions might be:
- On a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being not at all likely and 10 being very likely, how likely is it?
- Is there anything I can do or not to which would make you MORE likely to talk to me?
- If you didn’t want to talk to me, who could you talk to?
3. What kinds of videos should be “adults only” and “okay for kids” on youtube? Why?
This question is designed to find out whether children are aware of the difference between content suitable for children and that suitable for adults. It is also designed to help children become aware of the difference between content which is okay for kids, and content which might scare, confuse or hurt them – and why this happens.
When I asked this question of one child it sparked a conversation which helped him think about the videos he was watching which we decided were “adults only”. Just having the labels “adults only” and “okay for kids” was useful for this family – having the phrases to use to deal with these issues can be helpful.
If children don’t know the answer to this question, or say, “nothing” – possible follow-up questions are listed below.
Keep in mind that the asking and/or the phrasing of all of these questions will need to be modified depending on the child’s developmental level, and some may need to be negotiated – for example, some families will be okay with their children watching videos with some element of the below and some won’t be:
- What about videos which show people being violent towards others?
- What about videos which show people who are naked, nearly naked or involved in sexual activity?
- What about videos which have a lot of/some swearing?
- What about videos which show people drinking alcohol or using drugs?
- What about videos which show people making fun of others?
- What about videos which show people doing activities which might be dangerous or illegal?
- What about videos which might be okay for kids to watch occasionally, but would NOT be good for kids to watch many of, all the time (eg videos with stereotyped views of girls or boys)
4. How can adults help kids to only watch “okay for kids” youtube videos and avoid “adults only” video?
This question is designed to give us our children’s perspective on potential limits for youtube watching, and to introduce them to the idea that “adults are in charge” of video watching.
We need to introduce this idea to them because while education and communication (for example via the questions above) is the most important thing we can do for children (we won’t always be able to protect them from inappropriate content), it is also essential for children’s well being that as parents we do have final say on some aspects of video watching.
These conversations are not easy. For example, one child I talked to about this became quite upset about the idea that adults should be in charge of his youtube watching because he had never been introduced to this idea. His parents/carers and I had to carefully manage how we put rules in place, while still respecting his desire for independence. Another child surprised his parents (and myself) by agreeing that some videos were “adults only” and initiating several rules we hadn’t thought of to make sure he wasn’t tempted to watch them.
Here are some follow up questions which might help to develop the “adults in charge” concept to children.
- What do you think about putting the “safety mode” on youtube?
- What do you think about the youtube kids app – and only watching youtube via the app?
- What do you think about a rule that you need to show us a channel you are interested in before you “subscribe” to the video?
- What do you think about a rule which says “No commenting” on youtube videos?
- What do you think about only watching youtube for a certain number of minutes each week?
- What do you think about only watching youtube on certain devices and/or in certain places (ie not on your phone/not in the bedroom.
Feel overwhelmed?
Helping children only watch “okay for kids” videos on youtube can be a difficult task.
Don’t forget that doing this doesn’t have to be all done at once. It’s okay for parents and carers to just take small steps towards this and do it slowly over time.
Just start with one of the questions above (reminder: Have you seen something which has upset you? If you did see something which upset you – would you talk to me? What videos should be “adults only” and “How can I help you only watch “okay for kids” videos).
ABOUT DEVELOPING MINDS
Children and teens experience tough times just like adults do. They feel sad, worried, stressed, angry, frustrated and overwhelmed. They don’t quite know how to cope with stress, they need help learning to act in positive ways, they struggle with relationships and benefit from support in many other ways.
Developing Minds specialise in helping children and teens – and the people who support them. For nearly 20 years, Developing Minds Psychology and Education has cared for, supported and worked with thousands of South Australian children and young people. Working with children ranging from the age of 4 through to 17, the team are fully qualified child psychologists and work with children and teens, and then depending on their age, also with their parents. If appropriate we also work with schools and other supports. We have two clinics in Adelaide (city and south).
