When their kids were growing up YouTube and the internet didn’t exist, so age-appropriate channel creation wasn’t a topic they had to ponder.
Fast forward to 2023 and in camp 1 are the parents who claim privacy is the issue, protecting identities and the threat of internet predators or trolls. Creeps posing as someone they’re not or hurtful comments on their kids’ hard work – when previously they’ve only experienced praise or constructive criticism.
In camp 2 are those who are so immersed in the digital world themselves they see no issue with it – in fact, they encourage it for the skills it brings, the confidence it promotes and the fact it keeps the kids well entertained during a rainy summer.
In a world where tolerance for bullying is lower – it certainly still happens, and these days it can follow kids online and into what should be a safe space at home.
There’s not a childhood lesson I can dredge up to help with the decision – like the ones I have about bike or roller skate safety and what happened when I tried to go to sleep after six hours sleep of playing Sega games at the neighbours.
Nobody really knows what the repercussions of a generation of little kids growing up in the internet age will be, or what they will tell their children about the lessons they learned from it.
What I do know is that for the majority of kids, screens have more instant appeal and pull right now than bikes and board games. Some will argue that’s not the case in their household but most, if they’re honest, will admit it’s true. They’ll look up from their phones and tell you their kids have restricted screen time and don’t watch ‘TV’ – the free-to-air sort is often what they mean.
So after a quick poll around my most trusted parental friends, I surmised what matters most when considering a YouTube channel is the parenting you’ve already done and backing ourselves we gave our son the green light.
If you’ve taught your child about stranger danger, good manners, appropriate language and self-respect they will take these lessons with them into the online arena.
If they are strong and confident, know their own worth, if they are capable and brave, they will approach a YouTube channel in the same way.
Like anything in parenting, the boundaries are important too and these will need constant updating as our son’s life experiences and knowledge expand, and he questions and challenges more of what his parents tell him.
We’ve reinforced that all content must be reviewed and uploaded by us. If we’ve done a half decent job of parenting, he already knows what will get past us and what won’t.
It’s also teaching him about consent – a buzz word of the 21st century. He can’t add a friend or family member into the video unless they have agreed to it – they simply may not share in his search for internet stardom, or their parents may sit firmly in camp 1.
What’s most important I think are the values you’ve already instilled in your child – which means maybe there is generations of parenting precedent to call on after all, it’s just the topic that’s different.
It’s not without risk – there’s others on the internet who certainly won’t share these same values, but we can’t control the whole world – only best prepare them for it.
Michele Hunter is a local business owner, mum of two school-age children and a former Bay of Plenty Times chief reporter. She is Tauranga born and bred - with opinions on most things. You’ll often find her by the water – sea or lake - enjoying all this great region has to offer.
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