Page 27 - Blue Valley News March Issue 2023

TODAY’S CHILD

videos about COVID-19 contained misinformation while 2. Restricted mode: This will help to filter out inappropriate
reaching millions of viewers across the world. Researchers videos, but due to the volume of videos on the platform,
found the site’s algorithm to be the problem as “75% percent it isn’t 100% effective. This feature can be enabled on
of the inappropriate content reported came from videos “Settings” and by clicking on “Restricted mode” on the
recommended by YouTube’s automatic recommendation drop-down menu at the bottom of the screen. Change
system”. the option to “On” and click on “Save”.
3. Custom password: You can set up a custom password to
They also found that many of the videos fell into what prevent your child from accessing your parental controls
YouTube calls “borderline content” – videos that “skirt the and making changes. To do this, tap on the “Lock” icon
borders of their Community Guidelines without actually and choose “Set my own password”.
violating them”. For example, the report pointed to the 4. Save videos to private: If your child is posting videos,
animated video Woody’s Got Wood, which was actually “a talk to them about setting the content they upload to
sexualised parody of the children’s film, Toy Story”. “Private”, so that only their subscribers or followers can
view the videos. Also, talk to them about who is allowed
An interesting point raised was that because YouTube’s to follow or subscribe to their channel. Set this by going to
algorithm recommends content based on what it determines “Library” and selecting your videos, then click on “Select
users are interested in, it often suggests videos that reinforce more” and “Visibility”, and you will be able to choose
existing ideas or beliefs. For teens still forming their own ideas, between private, public and unlisted.
beliefs and values, these rabbit holes or “echo chambers” 5. Auto-play: This stops videos from automatically playing
made up of one-sided perspectives can be dangerous. Many after one has ended, preventing further suggested videos
will also argue that this phenomenon (which is not unique from playing. To turn this on, go to “Watch screen on any
to YouTube) fuels the increasingly polarised culture we find video”, then tap the auto-play switch to “Off”.
ourselves in. 6. Create playlists: Playlists help you manage the videos
your younger child can watch. It is recommended that
WHAT CAN PARENTS DO? you watch videos before your child does in order to
If your child has posted nude videos or photos of themself ensure that they are appropriate, and then add them (or
online, Childline and the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) not) to the new playlist. To add a video to the playlist,
have created a tool called Report Remove for young people select “Save” at the bottom of the video and select the
under the age of 18. It provides steps to determine if the playlist or choose to create a new playlist.
image can be removed from online platforms and prevent
further sharing. YouTube Kids is a separate app and website that offers
more filters and restrictions to prevent children from being
British child protection charity the National Society for the exposed to inappropriate content. There are also additional
Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) lists six features to parental controls available, depending on children’s ages.
help ensure your child’s safety on YouTube. You can even create individual user profiles for more than
1. Supervision: YouTube has a supervised experience one child.
account available for children under the age of 13, with
a Google account managed by Family Link. This can help Remember: Controls are never 100% effective, so it’s
you manage how the app is used by giving you access to essential that you supervise what your children are
content settings and parental controls that manage the watching, especially when they are younger. Teaching them
channels children can subscribe to, as well as how long how to stay safe in an online world is a critical parental
they can spend on the app. Information on how to set this responsibility, and guidance is easy to find online.
up can be found on YouTube’s advice page. Resources: https://www.nspcc.org.uk

BLUE VALLEY NEWS • Issue 1 2023• 25