The UK government is calling on online video platforms, such as YouTube, to actively promote educational and developmentally beneficial content for children. This initiative aims to counter the prevalence of less beneficial content often found by children on these platforms.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has directly addressed tech companies, urging them to prioritize videos that can inform children about the world and support their mental and emotional growth. This push comes amidst concerns that children are increasingly using video-sharing platforms where the content is often not as high-quality as traditional broadcasters produce.
Ms. Nandy highlighted the concern that, despite investment in creating quality children's content, children are not easily finding or watching it. This is largely due to the move of children to online platforms, where content is easily discoverable, but may not be beneficial for the child's development, she said. She further noted that a more balanced approach is needed to ensure children access valuable content.
The move comes after it was found that despite investment into children's content, children were not easily able to find and watch it. This has prompted the Government to work with online video platforms to improve the accessibility and availability of better quality content.
YouTube responded stating that the safety of its users is their main priority and that they are aiming to provide age-appropriate and safe online experiences for children and teenagers. This is in response to growing concern around the lack of regulation on such platforms.
Former children's presenter Baroness Floella Benjamin also expressed concerns about the state of children's programming, noting the migration of children to unregulated online platforms. She highlighted the impact on children's television professionals who are now finding it harder to produce quality content.
