Urgent warning to parents about “dangerous” YouTube shows for children – here’s how to protect them

Parents have been urgently warned about YouTube shows that could be “dangerous” for children.

With more and more teens tuning in to the streaming site, the regular channels have taken a hit.

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An Ofcom report found that viewers aged between four and 15 watched just 25 minutes of TV shows a day in 2021.

While in the previous decade around 69 minutes were watched every day.

Faraz Osman, chair of Bafta’s children’s council, said he feared the “endless content” available on the platform could change children’s viewing habits.

He said parents felt overwhelmed by the “addictive” programming – which doesn’t seem to be ending.

said Faraz The times: “It seems that platforms are now rewarding children’s content that is addictive rather than substantive, silly without being clever, and shiny rather than safe.

“We risk leaving our children unsupervised while they feed on substandard, unhealthy, addictive, and sometimes dangerous content.”

The surge in YouTube shows comes after funding for children’s programs has fallen by over £100m over the past 20 years.

Data shows £69m was spent in 2021 compared to £195m in 2002.

Oli Hyatt, chief executive of the firm behind CBeebies’ Alphablocks, said the industry’s slowdown in spending needs to stop.

He said cuts left kids stuck in algorithms and watching shows that have no benefits.