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What is YouTube?
YouTube is the world's largest online video sharing community. It's a website where users can view videos posted by thousands of other people and post their own videos in turn. YouTube is the most popular site of its kind and is recognized for its easy-to-use interface and the sheer volume of free video content it offers.
Many of the videos on YouTube are recognized for their entertainment value and/or their potential to teach and help users at home and in the classroom. Such well-known (and funny!) clips as Charlie Bit My Finger and David After Dentist were first shared and made famous on YouTube. While the YouTube terms of service prohibit the posting of material that is "inaccurate, offensive, indecent, or objectionable," many videos on YouTube do not meet these standards.
Concerns for Parents
- Your child could be viewing highly pornographic, violent, or otherwise inappropriate videos. Because of the tremendous volume of videos posted every day, YouTube does not view the videos before they are posted to the Web. This means that, although the YouTube terms of use prohibit the posting of anything that might be considered offensive, extremely inappropriate material is easy to stumble across (and even easier to find deliberately). YouTube is a powerful tool and a tremendous resource. However, you should be aware that YouTube also contains some of the most vile and corrosive material on the Web.
- Your child could be posting videos on YouTube. Anything posted on the Internet is free game for others to view, modify, or pass along to other people. Your child could be putting themselves at risk if he or she is posting things that are inappropriate or overly personal. Even if a video isn't overtly sexual or offensive, something posted carelessly may end up embarrassing a user in the future. Anyone can view what is posted on YouTube--including friends, family, potential employers, future in-laws . . . the list goes on.
- The comments and video previews that accompany videos often contain inappropriate material. YouTube users are allowed to post comments below YouTube videos. These comments can be full of swearing and profanity as well as crude and unkind language. You also see still frames of videos that are related to the one you're watching as you watch any YouTube clip. (You also see a whole screenful of these on the main YouTube page.) Basically, you can be exposed to all sorts of gross stuff even if you are watching a squeaky-clean video clip.
How Can I Keep My Child Safe?
- Decide if YouTube is appropriate for your children. Consider your children's ages, needs for school, and any other factors you feel are important. For children and young teens, the risks of having YouTube available in your home may outweigh the benefits.
- Determine what role you will play in your child's YouTube use. The bottom line is that parental involvement is a critical factor in keeping your kids away from the bad content on YouTube. If YouTube is blocked in your home, let your kids know that you are willing to go on YouTube with them to view a particular funny video they may have heard about from friends at school. With teens (who may have a legitimate need to access YouTube for school), be sure to ask what videos your child is accessing.
- Use a monitor. In addition to keeping communication open with your child, be sure you have the ability to go back and watch anything your child is watching. If you find that inappropriate videos are being accessed, take necessary action--whether that is a long talk with your kids about the dangers of YouTube or revoking YouTube priveleges altogether.
- Know what your child is posting on YouTube. If your child is uploading videos to YouTube, watch them! Monitor any of your kids' uploads to be sure they are clean, do not violate copyright laws, and do not give excessively personal information about your child.
- Use Quietube. Quietube allows you to watch YouTube videos on a clean white screen that's free from potentially inappropriate ads, video previews, and comments.
How to Put Quietube on Your Computer
1. Go to quietube.com.
2. Drag the box that says Quietube up to the top edge of your screen (watch the video tutorial if you aren't sure where your bookmarks bar is).
3. You should now have a little button that says Quietube on your bookmarks bar. Any time you want to watch a YouTube video, go to YouTube and find the video you want. Once you have clicked on it, click on the Quietube button you made. You'll then be taken to a clean white screen with nothing but the video on it.
4. If you'd like, you can bookmark Web address of the Quietubed version of your video. This way, you won't even have to go through YouTube next time you want to watch the video. All you'll need to do is click on your bookmark and you'll be able to view the video without the ads and comments.
Where Can I Learn More?
Read YouTube's Teen Safety page.
This page came up given the search query "Internet Safety." As discussed above, YouTube is full of great and helpful resources. But common sense, adherence to safety guidelines, and parental involvement are essential to shielding your kids from the dark side of YouTube.
Get WiredSafety's take on YouTube and kids.
