At some point in every family’s week, You Tube will be used to watch a video. Whether that be to make you laugh, to listen to music, to find out something new or to watch content by your favourite You Tuber, the video sharing platform is a part of all our lives. But with unregulated messaging in the comments section of every video and videos of all kinds for all ages readily available to viewers, how can you keep your child safe?
The main risks of spending unaccompanied time on You Tube come with the suggested videos which pop up after you’ve finished watching the video of your choice. Often these play automatically, or a child may click on something that at first glance may seem appropriate, but they quickly discover is not. Livestreams can be very problematic as they happen in real-time, and it is very difficult for the platform or viewers to filter out inappropriate or adult content that may take place.
What are positive actions you can take to minimise the risks and keep You Tube the fun and informative place you children want it to be?
The first and easiest thing is to either preview the content before showing it to them or watch with them. Watching videos together shares the fun but also gives you the opportunity to explain anything your child may be upset or confused about.
Have a think about the device they are using as the algorithm will suggest content to you based on what has been previously watched. If they are sharing the device with older family members, the suggestions may be aimed at the wrong viewer!
Talk to them about what to do if they see something that scares, confuses, or upsets them. By letting them know that they can talk to you without fear of getting in trouble, you keep an open line of communication, and they will be more likely to come to you for support.
Finally, have the privacy conversation… again. Make sure they understand what information is okay to give online and what isn’t. Have a chat about why people may want more information than is right for them to have and how to keep themselves safe.
The online world is an amazing place. It is offering our children greater connection to the world and access to information; however, it is a largely unregulated place. Safety is often about good communication and feeling confident that you have people you can turn to when you are worried, knowing you have that relationship with your child will put your mind at rest as well as theirs.
