3 ms·

Smartphone <> social media It's disingenuous to pretend watching some documentary on planets is the same as scrolling on tiktok. These devices have two faces:

Smartphone <> social media It's disingenuous to pretend watching some documentary on planets is the same as scrolling on tiktok. These devices have two faces: one is excellent and you can learn a lot from it, the other is pure crystal meth and messed you up. I think delaying the crystal meth part is fine, but delaying access to education feels rather shortsighted.

prepend 3y ago
> It's disingenuous to pretend watching some documentary on planets is the same as scrolling on tiktok. It’s disingenuous to pretend kids are only watching documentaries on planets. Especially when YouTube recommends “boobfest2023” ad a follow up. I removed YouTube from everything but the main tv because everyone my kids were watching something “normal” it went into crazy town of violence, conspiracies, and just giant assholes within a few videos or watching the next recommendations. And there’s no way in YouTube to fix this. Even “YouTube Kids” ended up in garbage after a few bits. So now I watch with my kids and work to teach them what’s worth watching. But it’s hard because YouTube is working to draw more attention and crazy stuff gets attention. Also, it’s infuriating to keep having ads on education. I have school assignments that keep get interrupted with ads that aren’t applicable at all. I feel sorry for the company that pays to show an ad in Spanish for progressive auto insurance to my 8 year old. Is it terrible ad targeting tech or just fraud? Beats me, but no one in my house speaks Spanish or drives.
- SanderNL 3y ago
  I think YT is on the crystal meth side actually. Strangely perhaps I find Netflix more appropriate for my kids. I just let them watch a specific episode and there are no ads and the content is adequate. There is at least some moderation. Edit: I think you are on to something with “ads”. Hate them with a passion. Those especially I regard as pure heroin being intravenously injected.
  - prepend 3y ago
    I agree. Netflix is pretty good with this and their “kids” profile is actually pretty acceptable and I’ve never seen anything crazy in it. They also allow removal of specific shows (eg, 13 Reasons Why) and are pretty kid friendly.
- clove 3y ago
  All of this kvetching... You're killing yourself psychologically. And you're so addicted to YouTube that you'll make all these complaints yet keep it on your main TV? Let me help you: >And there’s no way in YouTube to fix this. Even “YouTube Kids” ended up in garbage after a few bits. It's called "YouTube Premium" and removing the channels you don't like from YouTube Kids.
  - prepend 3y ago
    I’m not sure you’re using the word “addicted” properly. It’s a tool that is used sparsely. It’s on my main tv because the only way to moderate is manually. This actually makes us watch it way less. My problem with YT isn’t the ads. It’s the recommendation engine that shows bad stuff. If I remove a specific channel, there are many more to take its place. It’s just not a very good product for kids as there is poor moderation.

prepend 3y ago

> It's disingenuous to pretend watching some documentary on planets is the same as scrolling on tiktok. It’s disingenuous to pretend kids are only watching documentaries on planets. Especially when YouTube recommends “boobfest2023” ad a follow up. I removed YouTube from everything but the main tv because everyone my kids were watching something “normal” it went into crazy town of violence, conspiracies, and just giant assholes within a few videos or watching the next recommendations. And there’s no way in YouTube to fix this. Even “YouTube Kids” ended up in garbage after a few bits. So now I watch with my kids and work to teach them what’s worth watching. But it’s hard because YouTube is working to draw more attention and crazy stuff gets attention. Also, it’s infuriating to keep having ads on education. I have school assignments that keep get interrupted with ads that aren’t applicable at all. I feel sorry for the company that pays to show an ad in Spanish for progressive auto insurance to my 8 year old. Is it terrible ad targeting tech or just fraud? Beats me, but no one in my house speaks Spanish or drives.

SanderNL 3y ago
I think YT is on the crystal meth side actually. Strangely perhaps I find Netflix more appropriate for my kids. I just let them watch a specific episode and there are no ads and the content is adequate. There is at least some moderation. Edit: I think you are on to something with “ads”. Hate them with a passion. Those especially I regard as pure heroin being intravenously injected.
- prepend 3y ago
  I agree. Netflix is pretty good with this and their “kids” profile is actually pretty acceptable and I’ve never seen anything crazy in it. They also allow removal of specific shows (eg, 13 Reasons Why) and are pretty kid friendly.
clove 3y ago
All of this kvetching... You're killing yourself psychologically. And you're so addicted to YouTube that you'll make all these complaints yet keep it on your main TV? Let me help you: >And there’s no way in YouTube to fix this. Even “YouTube Kids” ended up in garbage after a few bits. It's called "YouTube Premium" and removing the channels you don't like from YouTube Kids.
- prepend 3y ago
  I’m not sure you’re using the word “addicted” properly. It’s a tool that is used sparsely. It’s on my main tv because the only way to moderate is manually. This actually makes us watch it way less. My problem with YT isn’t the ads. It’s the recommendation engine that shows bad stuff. If I remove a specific channel, there are many more to take its place. It’s just not a very good product for kids as there is poor moderation.