YouTube is considering making major changes to the availability of its children’s content after receiving backlash for the way it handles kids’ videos. But these so-called changes may restrict all kids content exclusively to its app, which isn’t leaving many people happy.
Recently, the YouTube had to shut down comments on many of its children’s videos after attention was given to the countless inappropriate and often predatory comments left on the videos. Many critics claimed this behaviour was encouraging predators to watch these videos. Nevertheless, many of its major advertisers, like AT&T and Disney, have temporarily stopped advertising on the platform, stating they’ll only continue if YouTube cracks down on the problem.
It’s uncertain how close YouTube is to implementing either decision. A YouTube spokeswoman said that the Google division “consider[s] lots of ideas,” but that some “remain just that ideas.”
For that matter, YouTube might not have final say. WSJ’s insiders claim that Google chief Sundar Pichai has been “personally involved” in navigating YouTube through some of its recent problems. If he thinks YouTube isn’t doing enough to protect kids, he may implement policies like these regardless of what the unit’s management wants.
