YouTube To Launch New App For Kids
Back in March of 2014, YouTube unveiled plans to develop an app with the goal of providing safe and suitable content for children under the age of 10. On Monday, the company will deliver on its promise with the launch of YouTube Kids, a safer, parent-friendly version of the popular video sharing app.
The new app will employ standard safeguarding measures you would expect from any content designed for children, such as preventing searches for questionable content, stripping away comments, and parental controls, including limiting viewing time. However, YouTube has a broader ambition to release new original content for the platform in the coming months.
Why the sudden focus on kid-friendly content when YouTube was doing just fine with drunk men eating bacon and famous historical figures facing off in epic rap battles? It turns out YouTube Kids was a long time in the making.
"(Year over year) we've seen 50% growth in viewing time on YouTube, but for our family entertainment channels, it's more like 200%," said Shimrit Ben-Yair, group product manager for YouTube Kids, speaking to USA Today. "Parents were constantly asking us, can you make YouTube a better place for our kids?" This new app seeks to supply the huge demand for a safer, smarter way to browse for videos.
YouTube Kids launches on Monday, February 23, and is currently only available on Android devices.
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Seth Colaner previously served as News Director at Tom's Hardware. He covered technology news, focusing on keyboards, virtual reality, and wearables.
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surphninja Finally. As a parent, I can't begin to tell you how long overdue this is.Reply
I try to sit with my kids every time they're on youtube, or at least require that they stick to certain channels, but even then it can go bad really quick. Especially with the crap that can show up in suggested videos.
Good to know we'll have an alternative besides something lame like godtube. And maybe this will us cable cutters some more options for kids. -
surphninja I hope this caters to different age ranges, rather than just toddlers like Netflix kids. The image above doesn't give much hope, though. It's tough to find age appropriate content for in the middle pre-teen kids.Reply -
g-unit1111 Makes perfect sense. Where else are kids going to get their fix of viral cat videos and guys getting hit in the crotch? :lol:Reply -
TechyInAZ This is a great idea! Even though i'm a lot older than 10, i would love this to filter all the youtube junk videos that are on their site.Reply
Please make a special website also, not just apps! -
scolaner ReplyPlease make a special website also, not just apps!
That's exactly what I was thinking.
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Maricel Mayer What do I type in playbook to install this? I tried "youtube kids" in my android but can't find it.Reply