Since I have a three year old grandson, I can see the value of YouTube Kids. YouTube Kids is an app that puts the kids in charge which is all they want since they crave power and they have none. The videos that appear on the app are generated by a “recommendation algorithm”, taking into account the user search history, viewing history and other data.
This article explains how the youngest generation of app users is understanding narrative, and the need for interactivity by tapping a screen, or repetitive watching a video for the umpteenth time, What is life like for a toddler living in a highly networked on-demand world.
If you don’t have a 3-year-old in your life, you may not be aware of YouTube Kids, an app that’s essentially a stripped-down version of the original video blogging site, with videos filtered by the target audience’s age. And because the mobile app is designed for use on a phone or tablet, kids can tap their way across a digital ecosystem populated by countless videos—all conceived with them in mind.
After we pick up Henry from Daycare, he is ready for “down time” which means “Daniel Tiger” or “Stinky and Dirty”. Grandpa then needs to access the videos found on either Amazon, Netflix, or YouTube. “Daniel Tiger” comes from Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood a favorite from my kids TV wind down years. “Stinky and Dirty” are trucks with good moral lessons. Remember checking out with the Mickey Mouse Club?