YouTube will launch a new, child-friendly version of its service for mobile devices on Monday. USA Today broke details of the news, which we’ve confirmed with sources at the company.
The app will initially be available for Android and in the U.S. only,
but the move is telling of the Google-owned company’s ambition to
develop its service beyond just being the world’s largest repository of
online videos. It already has its ‘Music Key’ service, and an ad-free version is reportedly on its way also.
The kids app will surface content suitable for youngsters, as you’d
expect, and TechCrunch understands that it will include a number of
parental control features, such as a limiter that restricts the time
of each session, and a sound toggle for muting and unmuting videos. The
app will ship with content from a range of partners from the
entertainment industry, including Jim Henson TV, DreamWorks, National
Geographic, and a range of high-profile YouTubers.
In addition to providing access to suitable content, the app will
offer curated options to help find videos easily. Dedicated channels and
playlists that span TV shows, learning experiences, exploration and
music will be available.
As someone with young kids myself, I can say that this app has been a long time coming. (The Information first revealed YouTube’s plans back in March 2014.)
My four- and six-year olds love videos (like most youngsters), but
I’ve always been somewhat wary of giving them extended time with
YouTube. There’s a great selection (and volume) of content on the
service, but there have been times when it auto-loads less appropriate
videos when they’ve finished watching something suitable… ensuing a
panicked rush as I grab my phone/tablet and frantically hit mute and
switch to something else. Netflix, with its dedicated Kids service, is
my go-to choice instead — and also books and real-life activities,
because you don’t want kids spending too much time online at a young
age.
(Fwiw, these inappropriate YouTube videos are often ‘funny’,
expletive-laden takes on cartoon shows which auto-play after genuine
kids shows.)
My kids love Vine’s recently launched kids app
— which shows child-friendly clips from the short video service — and
YouTube’s kids app seems likely to be a hit, particularly among parents.
by Jon Russell
Source: techcrunch
