YouTube Kids videos showing children suicide tips concern parents

A parent would think using YouTube Kids is the safer option in video streaming, especially because it is supposed to be child- friendly.

However, recently, parents across the world have been finding disturbing content on the video-streaming channel that is not child-friendly.

Suicide tips for children on YouTube KIDS: How to slit their wrists https://t.co/oeaLx29F3n via @YouTube Parents make sure you’re aware of what your kids are watching on the internet and tv because you’ll be shocked when you find out!!

— thermond gill jr (@thermondgilljr) March 1, 2019

Content that has been found is suicide tips, how children should kill themselves and how a child can set their house on fire. One such video circulating widely online, Momo, has been taken down by YouTube after receiving numerous complaints from parents.

Be aware of an app called "WhatsApp". There is a character called MoMo. The character will send potentially deadly challenges. This app has been linked to children completing challenges that ultimately end in suicide. Please, monitor devices, even the kids version of You Tube.

— Tiffany (@flattranch) March 1, 2019

Momo challenges children to commit suicide and instils fear in them by saying that Momo is coming if they don’t do this.

https://twitter.com/CgAn_Doemela/status/1101375419868160003

The video was widely circulated and gained the attention of Fourways High School which shared a post by a digital law company that gives three tips to parents on how to keep their children safe on YouTube Kids.

One of these tips was to find different platforms online that parents can use other than YouTube such as Neflix, DVDs and Amazon Prime.

Concerns from parents are evident on social media with some sharing their displeasure of the disadvantages of the Internet.

https://twitter.com/powell96_/status/1101334151603646466

Some rumor going around school about a YouTube video convincing kids to commit Suicide…I’m sure it’s a urban legend but kids are pretty worked up… pic.twitter.com/8T1pTFittA

— JW_sheepdog (@JwSheepdog) March 1, 2019

https://www.facebook.com/Angel.APR89/posts/1264294550376598

Others shared that the Momo video was a hoax or fake.

I can’t speak to this momo thing, but there are ABSOLUTELY “kids” videos on YouTube promoting self harm/suicide. I’m sure @YTCreators & @YouTube will talk policy all day long but they’re still there (I’m speaking from firsthand knowledge here🙋‍♀️). Stay vigilant anyway, parents.

— Voltaic (@SolarSconnie) March 1, 2019

Tired: I can’t believe so many parents fell for an urban legend about a spooky poltergeist convincing their kids to commit suicide.

Wired: If we can get Momo to come out as a white supremacist, maybe parents will take YouTube’s radicalization problem seriously.

— Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) March 1, 2019

Also check out:

https://northeasterntribune.co.za/155045/keep-your-child-safe-with-these-tips/