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YouTube Kids a “vapid wasteland” say US lawmakers

bbc.com

221–230 of 261 posts

Re: YouTube Kids a “vapid wasteland” say US lawmakers

#221
Fortunately my kids grew up with access to high quality fta tv and streaming app from a public broadcaster (ABC Kids in Australia) which draws on educational consultants, great performers, writers, animators etc. I don't understand why anyone would want to put their kids in front of some random crap instead of the Wiggles or Bluey if they have the option.

Kids spend way too much time in front of tv. It is just a fact with our lifestyles. So you might as well invest some money in it as a nation and make sure it is high quality.

Re: YouTube Kids a “vapid wasteland” say US lawmakers

#222

My kid had a great experience with YouTube kids. He learned so much from it, it shocked me. At one point he memorized all the presidents and very detailed minutiae about the dwarf planets, most I had never heard of. My friends had a worse experience. Their daughter started watching cosplay videos where actors would dress up like Elsa and the Joker, and the Joker would kidnap Elsa and tie her up. Borderline porn and p…

My 5 yo niece watched an automatic playlist of a show and in between there was a "top 5 stolen kisses from $SHOW" and a fan cut video "$PROTAGONIST killed" of a villain turning a protagonist into a lifeless marble.

Re: YouTube Kids a “vapid wasteland” say US lawmakers

#223
post #209

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Then she got fixated on makeup videos and they couldn’t stop her from watching those. If the kid has the last word on what she watches, the parents have their own problems. A family is more like a monarchy than a democracy, children can't outvote parents.

I mean, sure they can. They just make the parents miserable until the parents comply.

thats a monarchy

Re: YouTube Kids a “vapid wasteland” say US lawmakers

#224
post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I liberally use the "Not interested" and "Don't recommend channel" options in the menu. Works okay for me.

I keep using them on this one set of day trading ads and they keep showing the exact same ad to me.

Don't resist it, they are right. You need it.

Re: YouTube Kids a “vapid wasteland” say US lawmakers

#225
post #21

Can confirm. There is a strain of video (below) on there that is just like perceptual candy to kids. And there are LOADS of these videos in slightly different versions. My own anecdote: Our 2 year old found these videos (3 years ago): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7IsNFDtG4U&list=PLHZrFxrJbt... At first we were like "seems fine, colors and shapes...keeps him engaged". After a month or two he could just stare slack…

The worst thing is as a parent you are not in control of what is recommended or what kids can watch. I wish they allowed flagging videos through history but yt has other priorities I guess

Re: YouTube Kids a “vapid wasteland” say US lawmakers

#226

Earlier quoted context omitted.

PBS Kids was great the last time I saw it. Have they managed to stay neutral and not become politicized like so much of the media in the US?

I'm fairly sure PBS Kids contains politics since it has Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, which is absolutely "political" just like Mr. Roger's Neighborhood was.

How was Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood political?

Re: YouTube Kids a “vapid wasteland” say US lawmakers

#227
post #226

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm fairly sure PBS Kids contains politics since it has Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, which is absolutely "political" just like Mr. Roger's Neighborhood was.

How was Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood political?

https://www.biography.com/news/mister-rogers-officer-clemmon...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKy7ljRr0AA

https://www.fredrogers.org/2021/03/12/daniel-tigers-neighbor...

Re: YouTube Kids a “vapid wasteland” say US lawmakers

#228
post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At least on the web version, funnily enough you can do add them to a playlist. If you do it from the search results list, not the video permalink. You could also try if an alternative YouTube client like NewPipe works on the Shield, and brings more useful bookmarking features? (Another option would be downloading them, again with NewPipe or on a PC, and keeping the files somewhere)

I was not aware of Newpipe, I will look into that. Thank you. Your advice is eminently practical. I already have a PLEX server, I could just youtube-dl the videos/channels she likes.

That's exactly what I did. My kid loves live music like NPR tiny desk concerts. It also allows me to censor the few that had some bad words.

I'd still prefer if I could whitelist regular YouTube videos I explicitly approve of...

Re: YouTube Kids a “vapid wasteland” say US lawmakers

#229
post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At least on the web version, funnily enough you can do add them to a playlist. If you do it from the search results list, not the video permalink. You could also try if an alternative YouTube client like NewPipe works on the Shield, and brings more useful bookmarking features? (Another option would be downloading them, again with NewPipe or on a PC, and keeping the files somewhere)

I was not aware of Newpipe, I will look into that. Thank you. Your advice is eminently practical. I already have a PLEX server, I could just youtube-dl the videos/channels she likes.

Ah, if you have a plex server that makes that part easier. But really depends on how you use it, e.g. if you explore YT together an app that can browse is obviously better than just downloaded backups.

Re: YouTube Kids a “vapid wasteland” say US lawmakers

#230
post #18
post #11

Bigger problem is the parents who let their children watch youtube or whatever way too much.

I'm curious of the long term effects. Like you, I also think it's a disgrace. I had a friend who to me basically seemed like they didn't like dealing with kids, so just gave her daughter a tablet she was glued to at all times. I mean, young, I don't remember the age now but less than 2? She never made eye contact or any noise, just messing with the tablet. I can't help but think there's going to be a whole generation…

So I think there are two aspects about this. They said the same about previous generations with music and TV. I really do think they are shared experiences of a specific generation. Referencing the Simpsons is a quick way to bond with new peers.

On the other side, it's an opportunity cost to doing something else. When you start learning anything about child development it gets a bit horrifying. For example, for young kids there are a bunch of stages to learning to talk. Watching video recordings doesn't fulfill much of the development. A lot relies on trial and error of interacting with someone speaking instead of passively watching something flat (or animated) that was prerecorded. For older ages, sitting in front of an iPad means foregoing motor development or peer engagement...or just building bad habits about fitness.

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