Part of the YouTube Family

I started making videos on YouTube 9 years ago. I LOVED watching videos on YouTube, so I thought it would be fun to incorporate videos into my blog content. It was all very new to me, but it was also very intriguing. I actually still *cringe* when watch some of the first videos that I made because I was so NERVOUS to do them!

Here was the 1st video I ever posted on YouTube, that baby in my arms is my Henry (he’ll be 10 in June)!!

Literally… you can actually SEE how nervous I was in that video! It’s amazing to look back because now I make videos on YouTube without even flinching! It’s one of my favorite things to do for my blog and it’s been the best way to capture the lives of my family. My parents have VHS tapes that I look back at and watch, my kids have YouTube.

Two years ago I was approached by YouTube to be part of their prestigious YouTube Parent Panel.

I was ecstatic and jumped at the opportunity! They were creating an app at the time called YouTube Kids (which is now the most popular app for kids and is iconic in the McClelland family!!!) and were looking for parents to connect with and talk to in regards to video content for their children. Since all my kids have grown up YouTube kids, the YouTube Kid app just seemed genius to me!!

If you’re not familiar with the YouTube Kids app, here’s what it’s about:

A world of learning and fun, made just for kids

We created YouTube Kids to make it safer and simpler for kids to explore the world through online video – from their favorite shows and music to learning how to build a model volcano (or make slime ;-), and everything in between. There’s also a whole suite of parental controls, so you can tailor the experience to your family’s needs.

A safer online experience for kids

We use a mix of filters, user feedback and human reviewers to keep the videos in YouTube Kids family friendly. But no system is perfect and inappropriate videos can slip through, so we’re constantly working to improve our safeguards and offer more features to help parents create the right experience for their families.

Get the scoop on all the control features available to you:

KID PROFILES:
Create up to eight kid profiles, each with their own viewing preferences, video recommendations, and settings.

BLOCKING:
Find a video or channel you don’t want your kid to watch? Block it to automatically remove it from all of your kids’ profiles.

VIDEO REPORTING:
Alert us immediately by reporting videos that shouldn’t be in the app. The video will be sent to us for fast review.

SEARCH CONTROL:
Turn search on so kids can access more videos. Turn search off for a more contained experience.

TIMER:
Set up a timer to put limits on how long your kids can play with the app.

WATCH HISTORY:
Keep tabs on what your kids are watching in the app.

WATCH ON TV:
Gather your family and enjoy YouTube Kids on select TVs.

I can share without hesitation that Victoria watches YouTube Kids EVERY SINGLE DAY! She doesn’t like to watch TV, she prefers YouTube Kids (on my phone). YouTube Kids has been a game changer in our family because I feel good knowing that YouTube has filtered through the content and has isolated videos for kids. Victoria has her key channels that she loves to watch, so she doesn’t branch out too much – but I love that we can find so much content in one place for kids.

Once or twice a year I get the chance to meet up with my fellow Parent Panel friends! It’s always a fun opportunity to get together because we hear what’s coming up for YouTube Kids and YouTube in general in regards to content that pertains to kids and families. I always appreciate the honesty and the feedback that YouTube gives us and most importantly – access to people at YouTube who oversee content for kids. To see the passion and the commitment from the YouTube team in terms of trying to bring the safest and most appropriate content to kids was incredible. I loved seeing YouTube listen and ask and want our feedback during this past trip. It really showed me how much they care and that they are listening and taking matters very seriously when it comes to children and what they are watching and what they have the potential to watch. YouTubers nowadays are the celebrities. Gone are the days of just TV actors and actresses having a following and influence. The world has gotten bigger and the internet is the reason why.

While at YouTube this past trip we had question about the YouTuber – Logan Paul. His content isn’t kid-friendly and he was just recently in the news about capturing a video and showing a dead body on his video. Fortunately my kids did not see the video (nor did I), but they heard about it. My sons are not allowed to watch his videos or his brother Jake’s anymore. I’m not happy with the content that share and as a parent, it’s my call not to let my kids view/watch it.

On Friday I was PLEASED AS CAN BE to hear the news that —-> YouTube Just Cut Off Ads On All Of Logan Paul’s Videos. The company’s decision will stop the controversial YouTube star’s income stream, estimated to be more than a million dollars a month.

I applaud YouTube for making this BIG decision.

I love seeing them using Logan as an example and really hitting him where it hurts, where he makes money.

Bravo YouTube for taking this STAND!

I’m so proud to be part of the YouTube family through the Parent Panel and it really made me feel good to see something like this for creators to see… this is a game changer and I hope it helps in terms of keeping content creation on the right realm.

For more information, visit kids.youtube.com.

Disclosure: I’m part of the Parents Panel. Travel was provided for me for the trip to San Bruno.