Addressing concerns, Google-owned YouTube on Thursday previewed a forthcoming update that it says will introduce an in-app explainer giving the lowdown on how the software filters content. It’ll also offer clearer guidelines on how to set up parental controls and show how to flag up any inappropriate videos that the filtering system fails to spot. YouTube Kids will also let parents disable the “search” function for more control over which videos their children watch. These issues received enough attention to convince US Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) to send a letter to Google CEO Larry Page inquiring about YouTube Kids. “Anyone can flag a video and these videos are manually reviewed 24/7 and any videos that don’t belong in the app are removed”.
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According to the report, YouTube Kids displayed material that involved sexual language, risky activities such as playing with matches and juggling sharp knives, and profanity as seen in a parody of the film “Casino” that featured Sesame Street’s Bert and Ernie. The app will also ask parents on how much access they want to give their child, either by granting them the ability to have the search feature turned on or turning off the feature so that the viewing experience is limited. “So today we’re sharing a few new ways we’re helping parents and kids enjoy the family content they love”.
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In addition to beaming videos to your TV, you can now explore playlists curated by collaborators like National Geographic Kids, Kid President and Geena Davis. The service has been doing well ever since, as the search giant has mentioned that it has been downloaded more than 8 million times. The company said that whether your child is “a budding scientist or eager explorer”, there’s probably a playlist for them to help encourage their passions. The app that debuted on iOS and Android in February was launched with a focus on appealing to young children.
