YouTube's crackdown on 'Cute Cat AI' highlights issue of inappropriate content for kids

YouTube seems to have finally pulled the plug on the “Cute Cat AI” channel this week after months of user complaints, but the shutdown is bringing attention to a bigger problem: AI-generated videos that slip disturbing content past YouTube’s filters.

The channel, which accumulated thousands of subscribers, used AI-generated cat animations as a front for hiding disturbing content aimed at young viewers. Many claim that they’ve been flagging the channel for weeks and are finally relieved but frustrated at the same time due to YouTube’s slow response.

Here’s what you’ll see if you visit the channel now:

While YouTube has removed the main channel, the platform is struggling to contain what users are calling “Elsagate 2.0” – a wave of AI-generated content farms that slip disturbing material past content filters by masquerading as kid-friendly videos.

“When you search for ‘cute cat AI’, dozens of copycat channels pop up doing the exact same thing,” noted one Reddit user. “When one gets taken down, ten more appear almost instantly.”

What makes these channels particularly concerning is their sophisticated use of AI animation to create seemingly innocent content at scale. The automated nature of production means new videos can be churned out rapidly. So even if a channel gets taken down, the persons behind the content can quickly post videos on newer channels, making it a whack-a-mole game for YouTube.

While I won’t link to any specific channels here, one Redditor did compile a list of many similar channels that are still up on YouTube. These channels have nearly identical formats — AI-generated animal cartoons, nonsensical dialogue, and surreal storylines that escalate into disturbing territory.

From what I could see, some of these videos are over an hour in length, meaning that if children stumble upon these videos, they’ll be exposed to disturbing content for a long time.

It’s clear that YouTube is constantly working to improve moderation on the platform, but with AI making it easier than ever to mass-produce deceptive content, many worry the platform’s safety measures aren’t keeping pace with evolving threats.

For now, if you’re a parent, the best thing you can do is stick with YouTube Kids. The content on the platform is highly moderated and filtered to make sure stuff like what we’ve mentioned above doesn’t slip through.