YouTube Kids can provide children with an array of entertaining videos while giving Mom or Dad a much-needed quick break. And while there are plenty of age-appropriate videos and lots of educational content on the app, it has its drawbacks just like anything in technology. One mom recently went viral for showing how easily a scary or potentially unsafe video can worm its way into the YouTube Kids algorithm—and potentially past your own security settings.
In the now-viral TikTok video, a mom is recording a video her son was recently watching on the app. Thomas the Tank Engine shows up as a cartoon, chugging along, when suddenly the video takes a sinister turn with the train looking evil as he says, “I’m gonna chug. I’m gonna choo. I’m gonna kill the lot of you!”
Yeah, definitely not something the beloved train would actually say to kids. It’s been awhile since my own “Shining Time Station” days (real ones know), but I don’t recall any of the trains displaying anything worse than the occasional grumpiness (I’m looking at you, James).
Related: How to make the YouTube Kids app safer for your family
“Parents, beware if you let your children watch YouTube Kids! I was shocked when I saw this pop up while my 2 year old was watching,” the mom, TikTok user Hannah Bishop, captioned the video. “I don’t even have words for this. Needless to say we are looking for a different subscription for Brody to watch.”
Many parents in the comments section brought up the infamous “Elsagate” situation from a few years ago. If you’re a newer parent—or you simply have no idea what that is—here’s what you need to know.
“Elsagate” refers to the controversy surrounding videos on YouTube and YouTube Kids that are categorized as “child-friendly,” but actually contain themes that are deemed inappropriate for young kids. The videos often feature fictional characters from family-oriented media used without legal permission. Elsa from “Frozen” was frequently the star of these videos, but there are many disturbing videos featuring popular characters that slip past filters on the kids’ app.
Related: 1 in 5 kids videos online have age-inappropriate ads—and that’s not okay
YouTube Kids had to ultimately pay some hefty fines as a result of “Elsagate,” and the company has since cracked down on inappropriate content finding its way to your child’s iPad.
For a full guide to how to navigate YouTube Kids and the app’s safety features, head over to Common Sense Media.
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