Should Kids Make YouTube Videos?

Absolutely! Kids creating YouTube videos can be a fun and rewarding experience for both the child and their audience.

In today’s digital age, children are increasingly turning to YouTube to consume and create content. YouTube offers a wealth of opportunities and paths for children to explore, learn new skills, and even make money.

As a parent, you may be concerned about the safety and appropriateness of the content your child may encounter or create on the platform. However, with careful guidance and supervision, YouTube can be an excellent platform for your child to pursue their interests, express their creativity, and even potentially turn their passion into a career.

Opportunities for children on YouTube

YouTube offers a wide range of opportunities for children to explore their interests and develop their skills, including:

• Educational content: YouTube has a vast array of educational content on various topics that children can explore and learn from, ranging from science experiments to history lessons.
• Creative expression: Children can use YouTube as a platform to express their creativity and share their art, music, and writing with the world.
• Collaboration: YouTube also provides opportunities for children to collaborate with other creators, either by joining a collaborative channel or by working with other creators on individual projects.
• Entrepreneurship: YouTube can be a great way for children to learn about entrepreneurship and potentially even make money through sponsorships, merchandise sales, and other revenue streams.

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Paths for children on YouTube

YouTube has seen many child creators become successful and turn their passion for creating content into a career. Here are some examples:

• Ryan Kaji: Ryan is a nine-year-old who has become one of the highest-paid YouTube stars, earning millions of dollars a year through his toy review channel, Ryan’s World.
• Annie and Hayley LeBlanc: The LeBlanc sisters, who started their channel when they were just seven and five years old, respectively, have become popular with their lifestyle and entertainment videos, and have even landed their own TV show.
• EvanTubeHD: Evan, who started his channel at the age of six, has become a successful toy reviewer and has even appeared on TV shows and commercials.

Benefits of content creation for children

Encouraging your child to create content on YouTube can provide numerous benefits, including:

Improved creativity

Creating content on YouTube can help your child develop their creative skills and express their ideas in new and exciting ways. A study published in the Journal of Adolescent Research found that creating digital media, such as videos, can enhance children’s creative thinking and problem-solving skills (Jackson et al., 2018).

Improved communication skills

Through creating and sharing content on YouTube, your child can improve their communication skills by learning how to engage with their audience and effectively convey their ideas.

A study published in the Journal of Language and Social Psychology found that creating vlogs on YouTube helped kids to develop their communication skills, as they had to learn how to engage with their audience and respond to comments (Jenks & de Castell, 2016).

Improved confidence

Creating content and receiving feedback from viewers can help boost your child’s self-confidence and self-esteem. A study published in the Journal of Media Psychology found that creating content on YouTube helped young people to develop their sense of identity and self-expression, which in turn boosted their confidence and self-esteem (Nabi & Oliver, 2009).

Improved technical skills

Creating and editing videos can help your child develop technical skills, which can be useful in various fields. A study published in the Journal of Educational Technology & Society found that creating videos for educational purposes can help students develop technical skills, such as video editing and sound design. (Purnomo, Indriani, & Nurhadi, 2021).

Exposure to new ideas and perspectives

By exploring content on YouTube, your child can learn about different cultures, ideas, and perspectives, helping to broaden their horizons and encourage empathy and understanding.

A study published in the Journal of Children and Media found that YouTube can be a valuable platform for exposing children to diverse perspectives and promoting cross-cultural understanding. The study found that children who watched YouTube videos from different cultures reported feeling more positive attitudes toward people from different countries and cultures (Tahmasbi & Khajeheian, 2021).

In conclusion, YouTube offers many opportunities and paths for children to explore their interests and develop their skills. As a parent, it’s important to provide guidance and supervision to ensure your child is creating and consuming content safely and appropriately.

Encouraging your child to create content on YouTube can provide numerous benefits, including improved creativity, communication skills, and confidence, as well as exposure to new ideas and perspectives. 

So, if your child has a passion for creating content, consider supporting them in pursuing their interests on YouTube, as it may lead to exciting opportunities and potential career paths in the future. Create on!