YouTube For Kids?
My oldest child is 8 years old. Although she has not been too adamant about it, she has started asking for things like a lap top and a cell phone. Yes, you heard me right. She is only 8 years old!! Recently my husband broke his Iphone. The screen cracked, so we upgraded to the Iphone 4 and let her have the old one to "play" with. As it turns out, the phone will now slide to unlock which it wouldn't do before thus causing it to be replaced! It's okay, though because there is no SIM card inside so it will not call or text. She can pretend to do both and take photos, so she is content with that. Every once in a while she will ask me when she can have a lap top. I just tell her that she is not old enough. Most of the time this will suffice, but I know that no matter how much I wish it would, this answer is not going to satisfy her forever! The truth be told, I don't know how old is old enough it this day and age.
With Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, I just worry that no matter how many internet filters we get, it won't be enough to keep her from seeing things that young girls just should not see! You know what I'm talking about, I'm sure. I get requests quite often on Facebook from people who do not know me. They want to friend me to spam me with porn or the likes. If a young girl gets a friend request and does not investigate, the outcome could be dreadful!
YouTube is a prime example of the internet at it's worst. Don't get me wrong, I love YouTube and use it quite frequently to upload videos of my children to post right here on this blog. But, have you ever noticed the "related videos" tab on the side after you watch a video? Have you ever clicked on those videos? Well, if you happen to do that, sometimes you wish you hadn't!!!
IzzyMom has written an open letter to Google concerning this very thing!
She asks:
"Why don’t you start a video sharing site just like YouTube…except for kids? So much of what’s on YouTube is way inappropriate for children (and that would be putting it mildly) and yet there it is, co-mingled with things that are fine for children."
I think this is a great idea and I hope that the folks over at Google take note of this wonderful post. A YouTube for kids would be wonderful and I guarantee, I would like videos to my blog from there in a heartbeat!
I encourage my readers to take a look at this rest of IzzyMom's Open Letter To Google Post and leave her a comment to let her know how brilliant you think this idea is as well. If enough of us get on board, they might take note. Oh, and Google, if her post happens to lead you here, I'll gladly be on the "parenting board" for rating videos!
Since we are talking of YouTube videos, here's one of my most recent uploads of the affore mentioned 8 year old daughter at church yesterday: (Note that I removed the "related videos" feature from this video.)
14 comments, add yours here:
I soooo dread the time my kiddo starts asking...... she's 3.... going on 8! ya know? its so crazy.... she loves this one dora computer game we have, and even that scares me!
Manda, I SO know what you mean!!! My 2 year old is the same way...they think they are a good 5 or 6 years older than what they really are! *LOL* Best of luck to you and thanks for stopping by!
-Tisha
Thanks so much for writing about the Youtube for Kids idea. It's good to know there are other parents out there on the same page. This idea really NEEDS to go viral!
Thanks again for your support. I really appreciate it :)
It was my pleasure, IzzyMom! I think it is a brilliant idea and have no doubt that it will take off like wild fire! :) So glad to have been able to post a link to it here.
Nice site, nice and easy on the eyes and great content too.
Nice one, might come in handy in the near future
What will kids want next.
They say the darndest things
10-4 Willy
Almost the same with my 7-year old. If she's not playing on the computer, she's playing with our iPhones. I guess they're evolving into a new generation of kids, right in front of us.
BTW, if it's alright, I'd like to recommend my fave iPhone app, Intuition. Tagged as mom's personal assistant, it's a task management app made for moms. You can download it for free on http://www.iconapps.com/product.htm
This is amazing, I don’t know what else to say. Perfect execution of a cool idea!
Good luck getting people behind this one. Though you make some VERY fascinating points, youre going to have to do more than bring up a few things that may be different than what weve already heard. What are trying to say here? What do you want us to think? It seems like you cant really get behind a unique thought. Anyway, thats just my opinion.
I've been a reader of IzzyMom since I started blogging over four years ago. She usually comes up with some incredible astute ideas.
Lots of anonymous comments. For the compliments, I will simply say thanks.
@ Willy: I know what you mean! I agree whole heartedly!!! They do say the darnest things. *LOL*
@Philippa: It's scary to think that our children are so advanced at such young ages, but they will grow up in different times, so I guess it is something that they will need...
@ Anonymous: It wasn't MY idea, just thought I'd re-post. I think it's brilliant. Thank you for stating your opinion. I've been blogging for over 6 years, so obviously I'm capable of SOME sort of unique thoughts, but you're entitled to your opinion. As for what I want you to think...that's up to you. I was just passing along what I thought to be useful information. :) Have a great day! Thanks for stopping by.
@DS: I saw you'd commented over there. I don't know why I hadn't came across her blog before. She's brilliant!! :)
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