What is YouTube and why is it so popular?

YouTube is the largest video platform in the world and for many children and young people one of the most important places to go online. Here they can be entertained, learn new things and exchange ideas with others. Whether music videos, gaming streams, tutorials or vlogs - the variety of content is huge.

YouTube is particularly attractive for children and young people because they can watch exactly what they are interested in anytime and anywhere. In contrast to television, they can decide for themselves when they want to watch what. In addition, many YouTube stars are very approachable and communicate directly with their fans via comments or social media. This creates a sense of connection that fascinates young viewers in particular.

However, YouTube also harbors risks: Inappropriate content, manipulative advertising or problematic trends are just some of the challenges that parents should be aware of. It is therefore important not to simply let children loose on YouTube on their own, but to actively guide them.

Unfortunately, the age specifications in the terms of use of YouTube   are somewhat more complicated. The following applies in detail:

• 16th birthday: Children under the age of 16 cannot create a Google account themselves. Consequently, they cannot register with YouTube. Exception: The parents have a Google account, activate a sub-account for the child and thus open up access options for the child, which they can manage/restrict/supervise themselves, however
• 18th birthday: Strictly speaking, all children and young people under the age of 18 require parental consent for any use of YouTube (i.e. even just watching videos). From the age of 18, all services can be used independently and without parental consent.

YouTube Kids

For younger children, there is the YouTube Kids app, which was specially developed for child-friendly content. Here, videos are filtered using algorithms and user ratings to exclude inappropriate content. Parents with a Google account can create a individual profile for each child and choose between three age groups . Parents can use a timer function tolimit the time spent using the app. However, there is no absolute security here either, so parents should always keep an eye on usage.

YouTube's ad-financed business model has an impact on the quality of the video content. In addition to educationally valuable videos, there are therefore also many videos with commercial content (hidden marketing and product placements) as well as paid advertisements before the videos. Younger children are particularly unlikely to recognize commercial clips with well-known characters from children's shows as advertising. It is therefore important to discuss advertising and marketing strategies with children at . Children under the age of seven shoulduse as far as possible ad-free content in safe surfing areas that are specially adapted to their level of development and viewing habits.

The world of YouTube is diverse, and many children have their favorite genres that they follow regularly. These are particularly popular:

• Let's Plays: In these videos, YouTubers play well-known video games and comment on their gameplay. These videos are particularly exciting for many children and young people as they are not only entertaining, but often also provide helpful tips on the game.
• Tutorials: Whether make-up tips, handicraft instructions or music lessons - tutorials offer valuable knowledge and instructions to follow. Beauty tutorials or explanatory videos on school and university topics are particularly popular.
• Hauls: YouTubers present their latest purchases in haul videos. They often focus on fashion, cosmetics or technology. Many of these videos are linked to advertising or product placement, which children often do not immediately recognize.
• Pranks & Challenges: Funny pranks and challenges are also among the most popular formats on YouTube. While much of this content is harmless, there are also problematic trends that can encourage dangerous behavior.
• Vlogs & Follow-me-arounds: Here YouTubers give personal insights into their lives and share special moments with their fans. However, this type of self-presentation can lead to children comparing themselves to unrealistic portrayals and feeling pressure to be similarly perfect.

As parents, it is important to engage with your children's interests. A good way to do this is to watch videos together and start a conversation. Questions such as "Why do you think this YouTuber is so cool?" or "Do you think this really happened?" help to promote critical awareness.

YouTube is financed by advertising, and children are often subtly influenced on the platform. In addition to traditional advertisements that are placed before or during a video, there are many other forms of advertising:

• Product placements: Many YouTubers* advertise products in their videos without this being recognizable as advertising at first glance.
• Sponsorship: Companies pay YouTubers to recommend certain products or services in their videos.
• Affiliate links: Video descriptions often contain links to products that YouTubers receive a commission for purchasing.

It is particularly problematic that younger children are often unable to distinguish advertising from neutral content. They trust their favorite YouTubers and often accept purchase recommendations uncritically.

Parents should therefore talk to their children about advertising and explain how influencer marketing works. One way to watch ad-free content is to pay for YouTube Premium, which allows you to download videos as well as watch ad-free content.

Parental supervision is particularly important to ensure that children can use YouTube safely. Here are some tips to help minimize risks:

• Watch together: Take time to watch videos with your child. This will give you a feel for what content is being consumed.
• Protect privacy: Explain to your child why they shouldn't reveal personal details or where they live in comments or videos.
• Use security settings: Activate filters to exclude inappropriate content and report problematic videos directly to YouTube.
• Encourage critical thinking: Address fake news, hidden advertising and staging on YouTube to help your child question content.
• Set rules: Agree fixed times of use and clarify what content is allowed.

YouTube can be a great platform for learning, discovering and inspiring - but only if children are accompanied and sensitized. Talk openly with your child about the content they consume and help them to develop a responsible approach to the platform.