We wish it never existed': readers tell us about their family's use of YouTube
Briefly

YouTube plays a significant role in the lives of Australian families, causing many parents to limit their children's access due to concerns about content. Co-viewing, parental controls, and YouTube Kids are common measures, though parents find these practices time-consuming. The platform’s algorithm often leads children toward inappropriate content, which is difficult for parents to pre-screen. Many families have witnessed their children becoming trapped in endless video loops, raising concerns over exposure to harmful attitudes and messages, ultimately leading some to ban the platform altogether.
Parents frequently reported they were restricting their children's use to shared areas by co-watching or through parental controls. However, this was time-intensive and hard to maintain.
Many parents expressed concerns about the content slipping under their radar. Parents use YouTube Kids and check what their kids watch before allowing viewing.
The algorithm on YouTube often leads users down concerning rabbit holes, making it challenging for parents to screen content without pre-watching everything.
Parents noted that once removed, their children were no longer stuck in gratification loops, jumping from video to video, which raised concerns about exposure to harmful content.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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