A mother shares her experience after banning her son from YouTube Kids, noting significant improvements in his behaviour since the decision.
City: Bristol. So, there’s this mum named Donatella who decided to ban her son from YouTube Kids. She noticed some pretty weird behaviour in kids after hearing a story from another mum. This other kid said something alarming, like he didn’t want to kill his parents. Yikes, right?
Donatella dug deeper and found out that YouTube Kids isn’t as safe as it seems. She explained that if a video looks like a cartoon, it can end up on the platform, even if it has some creepy stuff hidden in it. She was shocked by how many videos out there have strange messages disguised as kids’ content.
She shared a wild example where a cute bear tells kids to do something really scary. That was it for her; she pulled the plug on YouTube Kids. Her son is six, and explaining why he couldn’t watch it was tough, but she felt he was mature enough to handle the truth. It did freak him out a bit, though.
Now, he can still use the iPad for Disney+ and games, which she thinks are way better for him. Since the ban, she’s noticed he’s acting more mature. He listens better and has a longer attention span. He’s asked about YouTube, but she told him he can use it when he’s older and understands what he’s watching.
YouTube responded, saying they work hard to keep their kids’ content safe and give parents control over what their kids can watch. They have features that let parents pick approved content only, which is pretty cool.
Donatella’s story hit home for a lot of people online. Some parents agreed, saying they also saw bad behaviour in their kids after letting them watch YouTube Kids. Others pointed out that parents should take more responsibility instead of blaming the platform. It’s a mixed bag of opinions, but Donatella’s experience definitely got people talking!
