Do you know what your children are watching?

Online conmen have stitched authentic themes with their own malicious content

MUSCAT: Experts are warning parents to closely monitor their children online after a new trick emerged to make money from vulnerable toddlers.

Popular online cartoon characters like Peppa Pig, Spiderman and Paw Patrol are not always what they seem, experts have warned, even if you watch the clip to ensure it is authentic.

Online conmen have stitched authentic introductions and theme tunes to their own malicious content – and some of it is shocking.

Some parents in Oman – who say they always monitor their children online – were shocked to see fake cartoon makers using official opening scenes because they know parents will only watch the opening segment to verify the video is genuine.

The child’s favourite cartoon will appear to be official for around the first 30 seconds to one minute, then morph into horrific images where characters are stabbed, slashed and even beheaded – all for advertising clicks and revenue.

Experts say parents should beware the latest trick and that those responsible are coining it in.

Sites like YouTube pay for every click over a certain number of views. One Peppa Pig episode where the character is beheaded by her father, as her brother watches, has been viewed seven million times – mostly by children.

Uploaders of these videos stand to make plenty of money: online ad policies mean that every time a user clicks on an ad that accompanies a video which has more than 10,000 views, the owner of that video makes money. While individual clicks might not deliver much, millions of clicks could see channel owners receive plenty – all the while leaving youngsters traumatised.

Rebecca Olson checked the video her toddler had selected was safe to view and an official, genuine copy.