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Children Are YouTube's Most Numerous Watchers—and Its Most-Watched

A Pew study on children watching YouTube (and children-watching on YouTube) arrives as the FTC investigates YouTube for violating the privacy of children.

By Chandra Steele
July 31, 2019
why axis chart pew study youtube content

YouTube has a troubling history with children's videos—both those that star children and those aimed at them as an audience. A recent Pew Research Center study shows just how serious these issues are, since the most-watched content on YouTube features children, and children themselves watch more YouTube than any other group.

The Why Axis Bug Videos with children who appear to be under the age of 13 received nearly three times as many views as other types of videos. This is disturbing news given that the site has already had to disable comments on videos with children because of the prevalence of predators.

Meanwhile, children under 13 are not supposed to be watching YouTube but rather YouTube Kids, a platform that allows for parental controls and limits playlists. Yet of the videos looked at in the survey, those that seemed to target children as their audience had longer run times and received more views than other categories. (YouTube Kids videos were not included in the study.)

This study comes just as the FTC is wrapping up an investigation of YouTube's failure to protect the privacy of children on its platform.

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About Chandra Steele

Senior Features Writer

My title is Senior Features Writer, which is a license to write about absolutely anything if I can connect it to technology (I can). I’ve been at PCMag since 2011 and have covered the surveillance state, vaccination cards, ghost guns, voting, ISIS, art, fashion, film, design, gender bias, and more. You might have seen me on TV talking about these topics or heard me on your commute home on the radio or a podcast. Or maybe you’ve just seen my Bernie meme

I strive to explain topics that you might come across in the news but not fully understand, such as NFTs and meme stocks. I’ve had the pleasure of talking tech with Jeff Goldblum, Ang Lee, and other celebrities who have brought a different perspective to it. I put great care into writing gift guides and am always touched by the notes I get from people who’ve used them to choose presents that have been well-received. Though I love that I get to write about the tech industry every day, it’s touched by gender, racial, and socioeconomic inequality and I try to bring these topics to light. 

Outside of PCMag, I write fiction, poetry, humor, and essays on culture.

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