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Having 1.3 billion users, YouTube has undoubtedly become one of the world’s largest social platforms. The site generates billions of views a day covering just about every topic you can think of, and the best part is, it’s all free.
Now I’m sure you’re familiar with the stereotype of millennials growing up in media and becoming millionaires using platforms like YouTube as their claim to fame. Well, what you don’t know is that these YouTube sensations are kind of raising your kids. Here’s why:
A new Pew research study revealed that 81 percent of parents with kids 11 or younger said they let their children watch videos on YouTube, and 34 percent said they allow them to do so on a regular basis. The question is, what are they watching?
Among the countless hours of uploaded videos, you can find a plethora of educational guides, life advice, tutorials, DIY’s, and more. In fact, roughly half of YouTube users say that they use the site to help them figure out how to do things they’ve never done before and to help them understand events that are happening in the world. Nowadays, children have turned to YouTube for various educational purposes ranging from hair tutorials to math lessons. Sounds like prime parenting if you ask me.
We get it, a nine to five job can be very consuming. And let’s not forget about those dishes that need to get done, the load of laundry that needs folding, and the dozens of other obligations that are waiting on you at home. In a way, YouTube is serving as that third hand that we all sometimes wish we had.
YouTube saw it’s younger users as an opportunity for growth and created a space solely for children. The addition, YouTube Kids, allows for a safer online experience that is both fun and easy to navigate. Parents now have the power to control the type of content that filters through their children’s screens and don’t have to worry about explicit material popping up. It also disables comments and collects less personal data from your kids.
Use this site to your advantage, but don’t make it your child’s immediate “go-to” whenever they have a “how-to.”
Parent of the year, am I right?
To conclude, take the time to explain that intricate french braid, break down the Pythagorean theorem, and apply just the right amount of eye shadow. Because in the end, your kids are going to benefit more from you rather than a 12 x 8 screen.
