From its earliest days, YouTube has been a site for people over 13, but with increased family content and the rise of shared devices, the likelihood of children watching without supervision has increased. When YouTube Kids was launched in February 2015, the goal was to create a place where kids could access enriching and engaging…
parental controls
5 Ways to Keep Kids Safe on YouTube and YouTube Kids
Whenever YouTube or YouTube Kids is in the news for controversial content, we feel betrayed for trusting a brand that puts our kids at risk. This week, old news about the dangers of the Momo challenge resurfaced along with new reports of dangerous content on YouTube Kids masquerading as kid-friendly. My Facebook wall is filled with…
6 Pro Tips for Keeping Kids Safer on YouTube Kids
As parents, our child’s safety is priority so it’s always comforting when companies that develop favorite our kid’s online platforms take this as seriously as we do. YouTube is one of the places where my kids spend a lot of time and fortunately, YouTube is one of those companies. Having served on the YouTube Parent…
How to Set Up Parent Approved Content on YouTube Kids in 2 Easy Steps
Since the YouTube Kids app launched over three years ago, the company’s goal has been to provide kids around the world a place to access videos that are enriching, engaging and allowed them to explore their endless interest but one thing has always been missing— the ability for parents to approve favorite content. Today YouTube Kids…
New YouTube Kids App Features Give Parents More Control Over Content
Finally! It’s the news that parents have been waiting to hear— more control over content available through the free YouTube Kids app. Yesterday YouTube Kids announced new choices for parents to further customize content that appears through the YouTube Kids app. Features like collections, parent approved content, and improved search-off control will provide parents more…
Important Conversations to Have with Your Kids About YouTube Content
We know the days of family members counting down the minutes sit down to watch a favorite show together are long gone. The ability to stream, record and view shows later, and access content on YouTube has forever changed the way we watch but as centrally placed televisions have been replaced with individual devices, do…
Why You Need to Set Up YouTube Parental Controls
With YouTube in the news so much recently, it’s tempting to cut kids off from the content they love but what does that really accomplish? Our kids will always find a way to sneak the content we don’t want them to access. Instead, take some time to get acquainted, or reacquainted, with YouTube parental controls….
Featured in Kinect Playful Learning Video Discussing Learning Through Gaming
Video games used to be highly criticized for being passive, addictive, and violent but these days carefully created content designed for the youngest learners is interactive, educational, and anything but passive as they learn through play. Earlier this year the Microsoft Xbox Kinect Playful Learning team descended on our home for a 2 day video…
Right Age for Cell Phone? FOSI CEO Stephen Balkam shares factors to consider
As part of an ongoing series this week about online and mobile safety, Family Online Safety Institute CEO, Stephen Balkam, is here to provide tips to help keep your family safer online. In my recent interview Stephen talked about mobile safety and Facebook. Today he’s providing factors to consider if you’re thinking about giving your…
Xbox 360 with Kinect: Family Settings Keep Kids Safe While Learning (giveaway)
Since its debut just over a year ago, Kinect for Xbox 360 has transformed the landscape of gaming with the introduction of interactive elements that recognize voice and full body movement for a truly interactive experience. With recent announcements that Xbox is focusing on “playful learning,” it becomes a tool for learning in a fun…
