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YouTube Kids Launches On Android and iOS

Posted by samzenpus on from the won't-somebody-please-think-of-the-children? dept.

An anonymous reader writes As expected, YouTube today launched YouTube Kids for Android and iOS, described as a "family-friendly destination" and "the first Google product built from the ground up with little ones in mind." You can download the new app for free, available only in the U.S., directly from Google Play and Apple's App Store. The app's main selling point is that it only has content deemed appropriate for kids. In other words, the pitch to parents is very simple: This app will ensure that your kids can watch videos posted online without stumbling on clips you wouldn't want them to see.

9 of 81 comments (clear)

  1. Hmmm ... by jc42 · · Score: 4, Informative

    This app will ensure that your kids can watch videos posted online without stumbling on clips you wouldn't want them to see.

    Does this include ads?

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    1. Re:Hmmm ... by wikthemighty · · Score: 2

      Of course - kid friendly ones! ;)

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    2. Re:Hmmm ... by jc42 · · Score: 2

      How about "product placement"? ;-)

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      Those who do study history are doomed to stand helplessly by while everyone else repeats it.
  2. Hopefully better than SafeSearch... by wikthemighty · · Score: 2

    My 6 year old daughter does pretty good with YouTube, but there have been plenty of incidents like going from Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse to kids playing "Bobbie & Ricky" where Ricky has been kidnapped and tied up "because that's my kind of love!" which crosses the border a bit. I'll definitely be giving this app a shot.

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    "There are people who do not love their fellow human being, and I _hate_ people like that!" - Tom Lehrer
    1. Re: Hopefully better than SafeSearch... by Serenissima · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Well, he does have a point. When my son was two, we did have some very deep philosophical conversations about moral relativism. I'm sure I could have just explained why he shouldn't shout out "SHIT", even though it made people laugh. He totally would have understood.

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  3. Kid-friendly ads by tepples · · Score: 5, Informative

    You are correct. The article in The Guardian states: "The app will be free and funded by advertising, although YouTube says it will be carefully screening ads to ensure they are appropriate for children." If there were no ads, then there would probably be no partner or claimed videos. This would have cut out a lot of YouTube.

  4. Gosh darnit! by ArcadeMan · · Score: 2

    Won't somebody think of the chil... oh wait.

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  5. Very rudimentary by Anonymous+Psychopath · · Score: 2

    The parent can't even set their own PIN code. For security they pick four random numbers that change every time. Then they just ask you to punch in the numerals for something like "one eight seven four" and you put in "1874". Unless your kid is really young or really dumb, there's no point.

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  6. 5 and under by fulldecent · · Score: 2

    On iOS, this app is labeled for "kids 5 and under". ... so after 5 it's just rickrolling, goatse and downhill from there?

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