5 ms·

As a parent who grew up with the internet (I'm 40), I am astonished that anyone allows their children to watch anything they want on YouTube. So much utter garb

by jpm_sd 8y ago

As a parent who grew up with the internet (I'm 40), I am astonished that anyone allows their children to watch anything they want on YouTube. So much utter garbage.

Ancalagon 8y ago
I think the problem today moreso than 30 years ago is that the technology to view youtube videos is ubiquitous, cheap, and easy to conceal. Just the other day a coworker of mine was complaining that his child had snuck their ipod into their room and been watching youtube videos under the blankets late into the night.
- jpm_sd 8y ago
  My kids are still young (5, 6, 9), so I have yet to fight most of those battles. But I've already told them they can wait to have their own mobile devices until they turn 16... We'll see if I can hold out.
  - snazz 8y ago
    I don’t have kids, so take this with a grain of salt, but I’m in total agreement, so long as you provide them with relatively unfettered access to a real computer. They’re more likely to have an interest in the machine and computers in general without becoming addicted to low-quality content. I’ve really enjoyed re-reading this article and its comments, which debate a desktop vs an iPad: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4141993 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4141993
  - tyfon 8y ago
    I just gave my 7 year old daughter a Nokia 3110, it doesn't have much smart phone functionality. She is not allowed to use it during school but it's in her bag for emergencies. I'm also a bit curious of how long it takes until she asks for a "better" phone but she also has a nintendo switch so the games part is covered there.
    - fokinsean 8y ago
      FYI switch has youtube now
      - tyfon 8y ago
        Yes but it is age restricted and you can also blacklist individual apps in the parental control phone app. She is also not using it without supervision, the same goes for her laptop. My wife or I sit next to her.
  - taeric 8y ago
    Take care that your kids don't lose learning how to use technology. I knew several parents growing up that were surprised a few of us were so good at computers. Experience builds quickly. Even just running a bbs or playing games on a bbs was enough to build decent exposure. And I'm sure there were terrible things there.
    - jpm_sd 8y ago
      My 9-year old is learning to code with a Kano Harry Potter kit, and also learning tinkercad and 3D printing in her classroom! She doesn't need a smartphone/ipod/etc.
      - taeric 8y ago
        I do love those. They have YouTube, though. Don't they?
    - 908087 8y ago
      I've never once met someone who learned anything of value about technology by mindlessly tapping or swiping a smartphone or tablet display.
      - taeric 8y ago
        I have seen people crippled from lack of experience to all devices. I agree just a smart phone is probably not worth a lot. Along with many devices, though, it can add up.
- ceejayoz 8y ago
  We have a strict "no devices in bedrooms" for our kids (who are currently nine). YouTube's also blocked entirely via Disney's Circle on their devices; we permit strictly controlled usage on the family laptop if they have a specific need (an art tutorial, a Minecraft technique, etc.) Back when they were little, YouTube was great; my daughter taught herself to finger-spell off videos, and I'd happily credit it for her precocious reading. The worst of the algorithmic BS back then was the busty "reply girls" on every popular video. It's a lot scarier now.
  - cr0sh 8y ago
    > We have a strict "no devices in bedrooms" for our kids (who are currently nine). Have you considered maybe going "old school" with the devices? Like, get them an old home computer (Apple, C64, TRS-80, etc), with all the trimmings, and let them play with that? Or get one of the "newer" retro computing platforms (which you may have to assemble yourself) - such as this one: https://www.nutsvolts.com/magazine/article/december2015_Weston https://www.nutsvolts.com/magazine/article/december2015_West... ...and let them learn with that? Even an Arduino or RasPi could work; basically, give them a platform where if they want to do anything - they have to learn to do it themselves. Maybe that's just my nostalgia and naivete being channelled. I grew up in the 1980s with a home computer plugged into my TV in my bedroom (and later got a modem and phone). There was something special about it; I wish today's kids could experience the fun and sense of discovery that made it that way.
    - ceejayoz 8y ago
      > Have you considered maybe going "old school" with the devices? I have, but I've largely dismissed the idea. When I tinkered with an Apple II, it was top of the line - Oregon Trail was amaaaaaazing. I didn't have stuff from three decades into the future to compare it to. My kids know powerful, easy to use computing devices exist, so building an animation in Logo or something isn't compelling. They use their iPhones and Xbox daily to do cool, tinkery things - my son builds complex circuits in Minecraft, for example. I experienced the "back in my day" thing with my dad a bit - he wanted me to learn to take apart engines, and it took a while for him to realize I was doing the same with code. I think a lot of folks are doing that now with the next generation and modern devices - missing the point. Chances are they're doing something creative with it, even if it's not the same creative thing we were.

by jpm_sd 8y ago

As a parent who grew up with the internet (I'm 40), I am astonished that anyone allows their children to watch anything they want on YouTube. So much utter garbage.

Ancalagon 8y ago

I think the problem today moreso than 30 years ago is that the technology to view youtube videos is ubiquitous, cheap, and easy to conceal. Just the other day a coworker of mine was complaining that his child had snuck their ipod into their room and been watching youtube videos under the blankets late into the night.

jpm_sd 8y ago
My kids are still young (5, 6, 9), so I have yet to fight most of those battles. But I've already told them they can wait to have their own mobile devices until they turn 16... We'll see if I can hold out.
- snazz 8y ago
  I don’t have kids, so take this with a grain of salt, but I’m in total agreement, so long as you provide them with relatively unfettered access to a real computer. They’re more likely to have an interest in the machine and computers in general without becoming addicted to low-quality content. I’ve really enjoyed re-reading this article and its comments, which debate a desktop vs an iPad: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4141993 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4141993
- tyfon 8y ago
  I just gave my 7 year old daughter a Nokia 3110, it doesn't have much smart phone functionality. She is not allowed to use it during school but it's in her bag for emergencies. I'm also a bit curious of how long it takes until she asks for a "better" phone but she also has a nintendo switch so the games part is covered there.
  - fokinsean 8y ago
    FYI switch has youtube now
    - tyfon 8y ago
      Yes but it is age restricted and you can also blacklist individual apps in the parental control phone app. She is also not using it without supervision, the same goes for her laptop. My wife or I sit next to her.
- taeric 8y ago
  Take care that your kids don't lose learning how to use technology. I knew several parents growing up that were surprised a few of us were so good at computers. Experience builds quickly. Even just running a bbs or playing games on a bbs was enough to build decent exposure. And I'm sure there were terrible things there.
  - jpm_sd 8y ago
    My 9-year old is learning to code with a Kano Harry Potter kit, and also learning tinkercad and 3D printing in her classroom! She doesn't need a smartphone/ipod/etc.
    - taeric 8y ago
      I do love those. They have YouTube, though. Don't they?
  - 908087 8y ago
    I've never once met someone who learned anything of value about technology by mindlessly tapping or swiping a smartphone or tablet display.
    - taeric 8y ago
      I have seen people crippled from lack of experience to all devices. I agree just a smart phone is probably not worth a lot. Along with many devices, though, it can add up.
ceejayoz 8y ago
We have a strict "no devices in bedrooms" for our kids (who are currently nine). YouTube's also blocked entirely via Disney's Circle on their devices; we permit strictly controlled usage on the family laptop if they have a specific need (an art tutorial, a Minecraft technique, etc.) Back when they were little, YouTube was great; my daughter taught herself to finger-spell off videos, and I'd happily credit it for her precocious reading. The worst of the algorithmic BS back then was the busty "reply girls" on every popular video. It's a lot scarier now.
- cr0sh 8y ago
  > We have a strict "no devices in bedrooms" for our kids (who are currently nine). Have you considered maybe going "old school" with the devices? Like, get them an old home computer (Apple, C64, TRS-80, etc), with all the trimmings, and let them play with that? Or get one of the "newer" retro computing platforms (which you may have to assemble yourself) - such as this one: https://www.nutsvolts.com/magazine/article/december2015_Weston https://www.nutsvolts.com/magazine/article/december2015_West... ...and let them learn with that? Even an Arduino or RasPi could work; basically, give them a platform where if they want to do anything - they have to learn to do it themselves. Maybe that's just my nostalgia and naivete being channelled. I grew up in the 1980s with a home computer plugged into my TV in my bedroom (and later got a modem and phone). There was something special about it; I wish today's kids could experience the fun and sense of discovery that made it that way.
  - ceejayoz 8y ago
    > Have you considered maybe going "old school" with the devices? I have, but I've largely dismissed the idea. When I tinkered with an Apple II, it was top of the line - Oregon Trail was amaaaaaazing. I didn't have stuff from three decades into the future to compare it to. My kids know powerful, easy to use computing devices exist, so building an animation in Logo or something isn't compelling. They use their iPhones and Xbox daily to do cool, tinkery things - my son builds complex circuits in Minecraft, for example. I experienced the "back in my day" thing with my dad a bit - he wanted me to learn to take apart engines, and it took a while for him to realize I was doing the same with code. I think a lot of folks are doing that now with the next generation and modern devices - missing the point. Chances are they're doing something creative with it, even if it's not the same creative thing we were.