Why are youth so drawn to YouTube?
PARENTS ARE CONCERNED AS IT CAN MOULD YOUNG MINDS
Given the kind of influence the medium wields on young minds, parents are concerned about the kind of content their children are watching |
From watching their favourite music stars to learning how to do make-up, YouTube has become a modern classroom of international proportions for youngsters where anyone with a smartphone can sign up.
Given the kind of influence YouTube wields on children, parents are naturally concerned about the kind of content their children are watching. Around the world, there are instances galore of the positive and negative impact of YouTube on young impressionable minds.
So what does it take to make young minds stay on the right path? Gulf News spoke to youngsters about YouTube, many of them expressed their desire to meet their favourite YouTubers.
‘Search for study hacks’
Jala Hassan, a 17-year-old Russian, uses YouTube to “search for study hacks” that have actually helped raise her grades at school.
But Hassan is also aware of the envy potential of observing others’ lives that may appear to be more fun.
“I have learnt to take the good and leave out the bad from [YouTube] content depending on the quality of the video posted, its convenience to me, and what I have heard about it from my friends.”
‘Entertainment tool’
Adam Mohammad ,a 16-year-old Palestinian in grade 11, and his sister, Kinda
Mohammad, 10-year-old in grade 6, approach YouTube as a tool of “entertainment”, especially during weekends and holidays.
“I usually watch American YouTubers since it gives me the chance to look at what is happening on the other side of the world,” Adam said.
“I use YouTube for educational purposes as well, especially when I don’t understand a lesson, and I need further explanation about it,” he added.
Kinda has her way of sifting good and bad content.
“I differentiate between beneficial and non-beneficial content from the number of viewers, the name of the YouTube channel, and from the comments that people leave under the video,” she said.
“Watching English YouTube content helps me improve my English speaking skills,” Kinda added.
‘Waste of time’
Sana Hamouda, Adam and Kinda’s mother, a homemaker, believes YouTube nowadays has more of a negative influence on children since it “wastes their time”.
Still, she said, her children are benefiting from it. “What I have noticed about my kids watching YouTube is an increase in their knowledge on, and learning new communication skills.
When she sees them stuck on YouTube for too long, she urges them to step out of the house and get some fresh air. “I try to get them do physical
activities, like riding the bicycle or going to the gym,” Hamouda said.
‘Mood enhancer’
For Juman Amr, a 13-yearold Jordanian, watching YouTube is a way to boost her mood when she is bored of studying. “I always wonder how YouTubers become role models for kids and teenagers,” Amr said.
Lujyne Amr, Juman’s sister, has a way of disengaging Juman from YouTube. “We allow her certain hours to use her phone,” she said.
Amal Hussain, Juman’s mother, understands the importance of monitoring content. “She is still young and can’t fully differentiate between good and bad content, especially if she watches what others watch, without being aware of its impact.”
“Juman has become more knowledgeable about topics that we, her parents, have never heard about.”