3 ms·

I love this term - I think it beautifully describes the direction that at least, YouTube is heading towards. Take for example, this racket where a channel copie

I love this term - I think it beautifully describes the direction that at least, YouTube is heading towards. Take for example, this racket where a channel copies popular (non-kids) creators’ parody work, splits the screen in half with the content on left, adds a completely random DIY type video on the right half, and lo and behold its content for kids who are too young to know any better[1]. Another one: AI voiceovers on videos taken from Asian apps, with some made up emotional story, followed by “if you love your mom, like and subscribe” - which kids (< 8yrs) actually do![2] Or for that matter that YouTube makes it so hard to block channels and impossible to unblock specific channels (at least for kids). The platform has been unwilling to do anything about it for years. I suppose maybe this isn’t the best example but it’s definitely along the lines of a corporation prioritizing profits over all else, especially disregarding the wellbeing of their users. 1. https://youtu.be/VF4V7bRjjdo https://youtu.be/VF4V7bRjjdo https://youtu.be/UoGuLabqgrk https://youtu.be/UoGuLabqgrk 2. https://youtube.com/shorts/B2ZNFiix8JA https://youtube.com/shorts/B2ZNFiix8JA https://youtube.com/shorts/0eYYKRRcYrA https://youtube.com/shorts/0eYYKRRcYrA

smallmancontrov 4mo ago
It's wild that the same easily detectable spam formula from a decade ago is still active beneath every finance video today: "I'm confused! Well I gave my money to Mr. Scammy McScamface and he gave me 1000% returns! Google Scammy McScamface now!"
stellamariesays 4mo ago
[flagged]
skwirl 4mo ago
It is crazy to me that any parent of young children would let their kids watch YouTube videos on their own. Maybe this happened gradually enough that some parents didn't notice, but we had our first kid a couple years ago and I nope'd out of YouTube pretty quickly when I saw what was there. Even the channels known for being good - which we occasionally let the kids watch as long as we were present and choosing the videos - started to clearly optimize for engagement over quality, and so now we're done with it entirely. The stuff there for "kids" legitimately horrifies me.
- boringg 4mo ago
  Agreed - even older children shouldn't be exposing themselves to that garbage. Totally garbage in garbage out situation. Youtube can be good if its highly curated -- otherwise its just trash.
- salemh 4mo ago
  [dead]
- brandensilva 4mo ago
  We blocked YouTube recently in the household for all devices but one approved tv device that our kids are only able to watch with us. I let my oldest daughter at 10 watch stuff there a couple times a week which she largely watches Minecraft videos. I know everything she consumes for now. Eventually that will stop and she's on her own when she is more responsible as an older teenager but the important point here is this isn't helicopter parenting, it's survival at protecting her brain from dopamine overload making her a content addict. I don't want to go full Amish as I think it's important to prepare our kids for the inevitable world they will be exposed too but I feel I'd fail them letting them loose.
- port11 4mo ago
  Agreed. We understand that some parents in our milieu rely on YouTube for when they need to get stuff done, it’s pretty relatable. What we ended up doing: download a few dozen videos from the channels we think are good for kids. I hate CocoMelon’s fast-paced videos, but find SuperSimpleSongs agreeable, so we now have a Jellyfin section for toddler videos that teach him something. Screen time in general is highly advised against, but for that odd moment where we need extra entertainment, at least he’s watching something we’ve vetted. YouTube Kids is a cesspool of content, and your ability to block bad channels is ineffective since they pop up like moles.
  - brnt 4mo ago
    > We understand that some parents in our milieu rely on YouTube for when they need to get stuff done Certainly is, I can't get around this sometimes in order to do chores either. This is why I have a variety of kids movies, shows, series on disk. Plenty of variety, but all vetted.
ghurtado 4mo ago
The problem of 8yr olds watching too much YouTube is definitely not one for YouTube to fix. We're quickly getting to a point where all parenting is delegated to people and institutions that have nothing to do with raising children. And then we complain that our kids are not being raised properly. We don't even know who to blame for this any more.
- aaroninsf 4mo ago
  This reads like literal propaganda. Every assertion of personal responsibility (sic) in the face of billion to trillion dollar industry spending is bad faith, zero exceptions. British Petroleum invented the concept of personal climate footprint. That was bad faith and to put a point on it, evil. Tech industry claims that engagement farming and addition manufacture should be opposed by "parenting" are even less credible.
  - kakacik 4mo ago
    Yes and no. Look around you and count how many properly failing parents there are. Parents who literally offload their parenting to a tablet, TV, phone, nanny which is often on phone herself, whatever. Then complain kids are unruly when they don't simply listen to them like soldiers. Parents, who are often as addicted to the screens (and more) as their kids. Recent studies showed above half of toddlers below 2 spend an hour or more daily on screens, thats fucked up. I can count many such parents, way too many that I know. Kids before 5-6 should not access internet and should not watch TV. Don't trust me, trust children psychologists. Its toxic to their developing brains and personalities. Let them fuck up their lives on their own later if they must, don't give them hard addiction from the literal start of life, just because 'oh daddy has this super important work so doesn't have time to be a parent' syndrome, especially when its mostly empty pathetic soul draining white collar work with 0 added value to humanity. And if one is truly changing the world for the better (as in 1 out of those maybe 10 humans actually currently doing it) and can't spare time for some kids, then don't have them, its not some freakin' checkbox ticked and moving to next challenge and achievement unlocked. Its by far the hardest effort one can make in one's life, spans over 2+ decades, be never 100% successful, while facing many real risks of failure completely outside of one's powers (no I don't mean peer pressure phones in school, rather ie health issues)
zahlman 4mo ago
[flagged]
frankieg33 4mo ago
the only respectful youtubers are those that monetize off platform. Veritasium had a video a while back (that I can't find now) where he was walking around London saying the algo is requiring that he make longer videos. lo and behold, his videos are now 20+ mins when the main idea can be explained in 4 mins.

smallmancontrov 4mo ago

It's wild that the same easily detectable spam formula from a decade ago is still active beneath every finance video today: "I'm confused! Well I gave my money to Mr. Scammy McScamface and he gave me 1000% returns! Google Scammy McScamface now!"

stellamariesays 4mo ago

[flagged]

skwirl 4mo ago

It is crazy to me that any parent of young children would let their kids watch YouTube videos on their own. Maybe this happened gradually enough that some parents didn't notice, but we had our first kid a couple years ago and I nope'd out of YouTube pretty quickly when I saw what was there. Even the channels known for being good - which we occasionally let the kids watch as long as we were present and choosing the videos - started to clearly optimize for engagement over quality, and so now we're done with it entirely. The stuff there for "kids" legitimately horrifies me.

boringg 4mo ago
Agreed - even older children shouldn't be exposing themselves to that garbage. Totally garbage in garbage out situation. Youtube can be good if its highly curated -- otherwise its just trash.
salemh 4mo ago
[dead]
brandensilva 4mo ago
We blocked YouTube recently in the household for all devices but one approved tv device that our kids are only able to watch with us. I let my oldest daughter at 10 watch stuff there a couple times a week which she largely watches Minecraft videos. I know everything she consumes for now. Eventually that will stop and she's on her own when she is more responsible as an older teenager but the important point here is this isn't helicopter parenting, it's survival at protecting her brain from dopamine overload making her a content addict. I don't want to go full Amish as I think it's important to prepare our kids for the inevitable world they will be exposed too but I feel I'd fail them letting them loose.
port11 4mo ago
Agreed. We understand that some parents in our milieu rely on YouTube for when they need to get stuff done, it’s pretty relatable. What we ended up doing: download a few dozen videos from the channels we think are good for kids. I hate CocoMelon’s fast-paced videos, but find SuperSimpleSongs agreeable, so we now have a Jellyfin section for toddler videos that teach him something. Screen time in general is highly advised against, but for that odd moment where we need extra entertainment, at least he’s watching something we’ve vetted. YouTube Kids is a cesspool of content, and your ability to block bad channels is ineffective since they pop up like moles.
- brnt 4mo ago
  > We understand that some parents in our milieu rely on YouTube for when they need to get stuff done Certainly is, I can't get around this sometimes in order to do chores either. This is why I have a variety of kids movies, shows, series on disk. Plenty of variety, but all vetted.

ghurtado 4mo ago

The problem of 8yr olds watching too much YouTube is definitely not one for YouTube to fix. We're quickly getting to a point where all parenting is delegated to people and institutions that have nothing to do with raising children. And then we complain that our kids are not being raised properly. We don't even know who to blame for this any more.

aaroninsf 4mo ago
This reads like literal propaganda. Every assertion of personal responsibility (sic) in the face of billion to trillion dollar industry spending is bad faith, zero exceptions. British Petroleum invented the concept of personal climate footprint. That was bad faith and to put a point on it, evil. Tech industry claims that engagement farming and addition manufacture should be opposed by "parenting" are even less credible.
- kakacik 4mo ago
  Yes and no. Look around you and count how many properly failing parents there are. Parents who literally offload their parenting to a tablet, TV, phone, nanny which is often on phone herself, whatever. Then complain kids are unruly when they don't simply listen to them like soldiers. Parents, who are often as addicted to the screens (and more) as their kids. Recent studies showed above half of toddlers below 2 spend an hour or more daily on screens, thats fucked up. I can count many such parents, way too many that I know. Kids before 5-6 should not access internet and should not watch TV. Don't trust me, trust children psychologists. Its toxic to their developing brains and personalities. Let them fuck up their lives on their own later if they must, don't give them hard addiction from the literal start of life, just because 'oh daddy has this super important work so doesn't have time to be a parent' syndrome, especially when its mostly empty pathetic soul draining white collar work with 0 added value to humanity. And if one is truly changing the world for the better (as in 1 out of those maybe 10 humans actually currently doing it) and can't spare time for some kids, then don't have them, its not some freakin' checkbox ticked and moving to next challenge and achievement unlocked. Its by far the hardest effort one can make in one's life, spans over 2+ decades, be never 100% successful, while facing many real risks of failure completely outside of one's powers (no I don't mean peer pressure phones in school, rather ie health issues)

zahlman 4mo ago

[flagged]

frankieg33 4mo ago

the only respectful youtubers are those that monetize off platform. Veritasium had a video a while back (that I can't find now) where he was walking around London saying the algo is requiring that he make longer videos. lo and behold, his videos are now 20+ mins when the main idea can be explained in 4 mins.