Page 9 - Dainfern Precinct Living Issue 1_2023

Today's Child
Travel

YOUTUBE

TEEN SAFETY

Can you believe it –

YouTube is 17 years old!

And did you know that

YouTube remains the

unrivalled dominant social

media site for teens? A

study published in October

2022 revealed that 95%

of teenagers claimed to

use YouTube, followed by

TikTok at 67%.

BY NICOLEEN DAVIES, LIFE TALK FORUM

he YouTube algorithm is a recommendation
system that determines which videos to
Tsuggest to the user, catering to his or her
interests. It uses data generated by user behaviour
on the platform to match the right viewer with the
right videos that they are most likely to enjoy and
spend time watching. For this reason, teens use
YouTube and TikTok as search engines to explore
their interests, find information and pass the time.
However, the danger with any online site is the risk
of users being exposed to misinformation, violent
and graphic content, and of course, hate speech.
WHY SO POPULAR?
The popularity of YouTube can be attributed to chil-
dren’s love of videos and the notion that it is easier
to watch something than read something. Visual
media is also better able to convey context, content
and emotion.

YouTube content is audience-conscious, with the
creator’s intention of connecting and engaging be-
ing visible. YouTube is also easily searchable, and it
presents novelty and endless content to the user.

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