New YouTube changes will likely get a thumbs up from teenagers' parents

YouTube is taking steps to both protect and monitor teenage users. In recent announcements, the platform has introduced new features designed to safeguard young users from harmful content and provide parents with greater oversight.

YouTube’s new supervision feature allows parents to link their accounts to their teenage children’s channels. This provides parents with valuable insights into their teen’s online activity, including subscriptions, comments, and upload history. Additionally, parents will receive notifications for significant events, such as new uploads or livestreams.

Parents can view their teen’s channel activity in the Family Center. Once accounts are linked, parents can see the following:

• The channels that their teen owns and the names of the channels their teen can upload videos to. Parents can view info for these channels such as profile picture, channel banner, handle, bio, and number of subscribers.
• How many public, private, and unlisted videos their teen has uploaded to their channels.
• How many live streams their teen has hosted on their channels.
• How many comments their teen has posted on other videos.
• How many channels their teen subscribes to.

While this feature aims to promote safe content creation, it also raises questions about parental control and privacy. The ability for parents to monitor their teen’s activity could be seen as a double-edged sword, potentially leading to conflicts or a sense of being watched.

YouTube says the option to set up supervised experience will roll out gradually throughout September 2024.

In another move, YouTube is adjusting its algorithm to restrict videos that promote non-violent aggression and idealized physical appearances from being suggested to teenagers. The platform recognizes the potential harm of such content, particularly when viewed repetitively.

This change is aimed at preventing teens from falling into harmful “rabbit hole” content pipelines, which can have negative impacts on self-esteem and body image. By limiting the visibility of such content, YouTube hopes to create a safer online environment for young users.

YouTube’s efforts to protect teenage users are commendable. However, the platform faces a delicate balancing act between safeguarding young people and preserving their autonomy. While parental supervision and content restrictions can be beneficial, it’s essential to avoid excessive control and maintain open communication with teens.