ITV

Tag: YouTube Kids

  • YouTube Kids gets own website

    YouTube Kids gets own website

    MUMBAI: YouTube Kids is about to get its own website which is currently available as a mobile app. The company revealed the plan for a dedicated website in an official blog while introducing several other updates also.

    The platform has also introduced new categories for YouTube Kids to bring a safer environment for young users. Now there will be three different age groups: Preschool for kids aged 4 and under, Younger for children aged 5 to 7 and Older for kids aged 8 to 12.

    "Our systems work hard to exclude content not suitable for each of these age categories, but not all videos have been manually reviewed," YouTube included a reminder.

    The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and YouTube parent company Alphabet had already reached a settlement for kids privacy violations, and it was expected to include a multi-million dollar fine.

  • Three years down, YouTube Kids unable to make an impact

    Three years down, YouTube Kids unable to make an impact

    MUMBAI: Generation Z has grown up with mobile phones and even smartphones in their hands. What TV was to the older generations, the phone was to these kids who grow up with YouTube. In 2015, YouTube Kids was launched promising filtered content and parental control but Indian viewers seem to have given it a pass.

    “The app makes it safer and easier for children to find videos on topics they want to explore,” YouTube Kids group product manager Shimrit Ben-Yair said in a blogpost when the app was first unveiled. In 2016, the app was officially launched in India. Parents can keep a timer restricting the usage as well as limiting the content kids can search with a “turn off” option. There are four sections in the app offering different kinds of content- shows, music, learning, explore.

    YouTube along with other OTT platforms targeting kids has become a ‘digital babysitter’. Though, according to a recent survey, even in developed countries, big screens remain a favourite of kids, the trend of consuming content on portable screens is rising expediently. Turning away from linear TV content, kids are increasingly flocking towards digital content globally. In such a scenario, YouTube Kids definitely has a promising market but there are several factors stunting the growth, especially in India.

    In India, YouTube has not aggressively started any campaign till now for its standalone app. While YouTube itself offers a wide range of kids’ content, other OTT platforms such as Viacom18’s Voot have done extremely well in terms of views. It has popular shows such as The Powerpuff Girls, Ben 10, Roll No. 21 and Chotta Bheem alongside Dora, Spongebob, Motu Patlu, Shiva and Pokemon.  Amazon and Netflix also have rich content—both commissioned and original.

    In addition to that, YouTube itself is a competition to YouTube Kids with children having plenty of entertainment options. Sparky short form content channels like ChuChu TV, LittleBabyBum, ToyPudding TV, Marsha and the Bear, Ryan ToysReview have more than 13 million subscribers and are thriving. The numbers show how many kids flock to these channels. Whereas, YouTube Kids is restricted. It can be accessed only on mobile devices and smart TVs making it less accessible than the parent site.

    “From collections of channels from trusted partners to enabling parents to select each video and channel themselves, we’re putting parents in the driver’s seat like never before,” YouTube Kids product director James Beser said after the recent announcement of introducing several ways for parents to limit what can be watched on the popular app after receiving huge criticism. After three long years, at least YouTube has acknowledged it needs better policing for the kids app.

    While YouTube has marketed its kid-specific app as a safer place for children, it has to walk a long way to prove itself safer. With its main site being unbeatable in the competition, amidst outcries from child rights groups, the presence of several other players offering various range of kids’ content, YouTube Kids is still not a primary option for kids.

    One of the main reasons behind the launch of YouTube Kids was to make it a safer platform for parents, who didn’t want their children using the main site unsupervised. Since the launch of the app, advocacy groups listed several serious problems. Amidst cartoon animation, explicit sexual language was used, graphic adult discussions about family violence, pornography and child suicide were noticed, modelling of unsafe behaviours, even jokes about paedophilia and drug use were discovered. Along with that, through the commercials, there are enough potential risks for kids to watch inappropriate content.

    Despite not tasting the kind of success YouTube is accustomed to, especially in India, YouTube Kids finds itself to be under promoted. Though more kids are hopping on board digitally, the lack of success of YouTube Kids is a glaring anomaly. YouTube has to ramp up the offering and make the app a safer place for kids, thereby giving usage a shot in the arm in a cluttered market.

  • OTT platforms to captivate Gen Z on Children’s Day

    OTT platforms to captivate Gen Z on Children’s Day

    Mumbai: Today’s kids, a part Generation Z, hold a lot sway when it comes to decision-making in the Indian household. Their say is not limited to what is watched on television or viewed on OTT platforms. As a result, kids’ content on OTTs has become a rapidly growing segment. According to Vidooly, YouTube’s video content for kids ranked third with 1.3 billion views in September alone. A McAfee report suggests that 84 per cent Indian parents allowed their child to bring an internet-connected device to bed. Parents often hand over their mobile devices to children to keep them busy enabling them to watch online content.

     

    This Children’s day (14 November), various OTT and VOD players plan to shoot twinkling rockets of educational and entertaining content for kids. Here’s a look at what some of the platforms are doing:

     

    ALTBalaji

    ALT has five originals shows for kids. It will be streaming its top series, Get Crafty With Rob, in which do-it-yourself expert, Rob, takes parents and kids on a creative journey with easily available everyday materials, Ding Dong Bell L-O-L, a story of two friends Ding and Dong who are fun loving and believe in experimenting, and Moe Doe The Frenemies, which is a story of a wonderful and adventurous journey of Moe who is a little boy and Doe who is a baby dinosaur, are also a part of the line up.

    Apart from the shows, ALT has a bucket full of the most iconic nursery rhymes, compiled especially for young ones to learn, sing, dance and express themselves. For making shapes and maths more colourful and interesting, it has Happy Lucky ki Katti Batti that is a story of Happy, Lucky, and a flying squirrel, Tabby.

     

    Amazon Prime

    Amazon Prime is offering an extended variety of national and international content for kids. Kids can watch originals like Stinky and  Dirty, Just Add Magic and Wishenpoof. It is also streaming a series of old and popular international favourites like Powerpuff Girls,Dexter’s Laboratory and Johnny Bravo. In our very own Indian content, Prime has kept all-time favourite Tenali Raman, Chhota Bheem, Mighty Raju, and Selfie with Bajrangi and Baahubali – The Lost Legends accessible.

     

    Chu Chu TV

    Chu Chu TV is one of the most successful YouTube channels for kids content in India. On Children’s Day, Chu Chu TV will be playing regular shows along with the nursery rhymes with the message of love, sharing and caring. Apart from this, the team has a tour plan to visit schools in Chennai. Regarding their visit, CEO Vinoth Chandar says, “We are going to three to four schools in Chennai and will be playing our content on the projector to entertain as well as educate them.” For LKG, UKG, first- and second-standard students, a colouring contest has been organised with certificates and gifts. Primary and upper-grade students will get sketch colours, pencils, cups etc. Third, fourth and fifth standard students will get Chu Chu TV branded pens.

     

    Lattu TV

    Lattu TV recently launched its app and will have shows like The Treasure Hunt, Talking Tom and Friends, Trigo, Maya – The Bee, Lee & Coco and more. Apart from online streaming, the team of Lattu TV is going on a social cause tour. Lattu TV CEO Vivek Bhutyani says, “The entire team of Lattu TV will be going to a kids orphanage and we will be showing our content to them. We are creating a small screening room for them and will be playing The Treasure Hunt. It will be like a theatre for them. We are taking our mascot Trigo, who will be playing with the kids. We will play games with the kids and, in the end, we will give them gifts.”

     

    YouTube Kids

    A while back, YouTube launched a dedicated app for kids to enable a safe and secure platform for educational and entertaining content. Starinn, a budding channel on YouTube Kids, is also launching a new channel called Go Yoga, wherein a mother-child duo (Tina and Daria) will be doing inspiring yoga, on Children’s Day.

  • YouTube Kids available for free on Google Play, App Store in India

    YouTube Kids available for free on Google Play, App Store in India

    MUMBAI: Keeping in mind the rapid growth of kids content in India, video streaming platform YouTube has launched an app. Called YouTube Kids, it is aimed at parents as well as tech-savvy children. The app, has been launched in over 20 countries, makes it easier for children to find videos on topics they want to explore.

    First debuted in the United States in February 2015 during which the ideology behind the kid-friendly YouTube app was described as, YouTube Kids app, the first Google product built from the ground up with little ones in mind. The app makes it safer and easier for children to find videos on topics they want to explore.

    YouTube global head of family and learning Malik Ducard stated that the team plans to bring new guest-curated playlists from educators, celebrities, trusted names and other parents in the coming weeks.

    Available for free on Google Play and App Store from today in India, the app features large images, no extra video controls, expect the play/pause, next video, and caption buttons and bold icons making it more convenient for the children. It is not yet available as a desktop version.

    YouTube Kids is fast and easy to navigate and also offers voice search to let children find videos even if they cannot spell or type. The app will include content from ChuChuTV, Kids TV, the Gummy Bear song in Hindi, and a new season of Appu – The Yogic Elephant. The app also includes parental control features like what can be searched by the child, timer to limit screen time and content restriction.

    The user interface features four distinct categories – shows, music, learning, and explore.

    ChuChuTV CEO Vinoth Chandar said, “Finally, our wish as a creator and as a parent has come true. As a kids creator we always wanted a separate kids app from YouTube because of the huge consumption by kids. As a parent, we always wanted a friendly digital space for our little ones to consume high-quality content. We are so excited about the launch of the YouTube Kids app and I am sure this is a blessing for all parents. As a creator, ChuChu TV has huge content plans for YouTube Kids. Good Luck to YouTube Kids.”

    Designed to offer family focused content, YouTube kids offers an option to parents to let their kids to explore their imagination and curiosity.

    Ducard further added, “YouTube Kids is our first step in reimagining YouTube for families, an experience that gives you a world of video in your pockets, and a world of possibility and knowledge at your fingertips. India already has a very diverse and rapidly-growing creator base for kids and learning, with content in this category growing 100% year over year. YouTube Kids comes to India at a great time for millions of Indian families, as it provides children access to content that will enrich their lives and create new opportunities for learning. It also provides the perfect platform to showcase India’s incredibly vibrant, growing community of content creators, from animation studios to edutubers.”

    “We are ecstatic about the launch of YouTube Kids in India. Carefully developed with healthy viewing in mind, YouTube Kids has to be, without a doubt, the most sought after edutainment destination. We are proud to be a valued partner of the YouTube Kids’ App,” added Appu Series CEO Sanjay Raheja.

    Toonz Media Group CEO Jayakumar P said, “Since its launch, YouTube Kids have redefined kids entertainment in a revolutionary way. Toonz’ relationship with the worldwide and Asia Pacific teams has been absolutely incredible. YouTube Kids’ launch in India is indeed exciting news and they will definitely enrich and entertain Indian kids in the most amazing ways. Looking forward to the YouTube Kids Indian avatar and great collaborations with them.”

    Sesame Workshop MD Sashwati Banerjee added, “At Sesame India we believe in the power of engaging parents in interacting with children. In addition to our kids-centric videos, we have recently launched a series of webisodes for parents hosted by the popular Bollywood actor, Twinkle Khanna on topics like self-confidence, bullying, resolving conflict, consent and many more which will be available on the YouTube Kids’ app. We believe YouTube Kids will be a great platform for parents and kids to build new practices for child care and learning.”

    Parental Control features of the YouTube Kids app:

    ● Search settings: Automated Prompt allows you to make a choice about how broadly you want your child to explore – turn search on to access millions of family-friendly videos, or turn search off to restrict your child’s experience to a more limited set. Either way, parents decide the right experience for their family from the get-go.

    ● Timer: Let the app be the bad guy with a built-in timer that lets you limit kids’ screen time. The app alerts your child when the session is over, so you don’t have to. (You’re welcome. 😉

    ● Sound settings: Sometimes you need a little peace and quiet! You have an option to turn off background music and sound effects, so your kids can keep watching while parents catch a breath.

    ● Passcode and restricting certain content: Parents have the ability to set their own passcode, and to access settings and other parental information in the app.

    ● YouTube Kids on the big screen: You can now also watch YouTube Kids as a family on your big screen using Chromecast, Apple TV, game consoles or a smart TV.

  • YouTube Kids available for free on Google Play, App Store in India

    YouTube Kids available for free on Google Play, App Store in India

    MUMBAI: Keeping in mind the rapid growth of kids content in India, video streaming platform YouTube has launched an app. Called YouTube Kids, it is aimed at parents as well as tech-savvy children. The app, has been launched in over 20 countries, makes it easier for children to find videos on topics they want to explore.

    First debuted in the United States in February 2015 during which the ideology behind the kid-friendly YouTube app was described as, YouTube Kids app, the first Google product built from the ground up with little ones in mind. The app makes it safer and easier for children to find videos on topics they want to explore.

    YouTube global head of family and learning Malik Ducard stated that the team plans to bring new guest-curated playlists from educators, celebrities, trusted names and other parents in the coming weeks.

    Available for free on Google Play and App Store from today in India, the app features large images, no extra video controls, expect the play/pause, next video, and caption buttons and bold icons making it more convenient for the children. It is not yet available as a desktop version.

    YouTube Kids is fast and easy to navigate and also offers voice search to let children find videos even if they cannot spell or type. The app will include content from ChuChuTV, Kids TV, the Gummy Bear song in Hindi, and a new season of Appu – The Yogic Elephant. The app also includes parental control features like what can be searched by the child, timer to limit screen time and content restriction.

    The user interface features four distinct categories – shows, music, learning, and explore.

    ChuChuTV CEO Vinoth Chandar said, “Finally, our wish as a creator and as a parent has come true. As a kids creator we always wanted a separate kids app from YouTube because of the huge consumption by kids. As a parent, we always wanted a friendly digital space for our little ones to consume high-quality content. We are so excited about the launch of the YouTube Kids app and I am sure this is a blessing for all parents. As a creator, ChuChu TV has huge content plans for YouTube Kids. Good Luck to YouTube Kids.”

    Designed to offer family focused content, YouTube kids offers an option to parents to let their kids to explore their imagination and curiosity.

    Ducard further added, “YouTube Kids is our first step in reimagining YouTube for families, an experience that gives you a world of video in your pockets, and a world of possibility and knowledge at your fingertips. India already has a very diverse and rapidly-growing creator base for kids and learning, with content in this category growing 100% year over year. YouTube Kids comes to India at a great time for millions of Indian families, as it provides children access to content that will enrich their lives and create new opportunities for learning. It also provides the perfect platform to showcase India’s incredibly vibrant, growing community of content creators, from animation studios to edutubers.”

    “We are ecstatic about the launch of YouTube Kids in India. Carefully developed with healthy viewing in mind, YouTube Kids has to be, without a doubt, the most sought after edutainment destination. We are proud to be a valued partner of the YouTube Kids’ App,” added Appu Series CEO Sanjay Raheja.

    Toonz Media Group CEO Jayakumar P said, “Since its launch, YouTube Kids have redefined kids entertainment in a revolutionary way. Toonz’ relationship with the worldwide and Asia Pacific teams has been absolutely incredible. YouTube Kids’ launch in India is indeed exciting news and they will definitely enrich and entertain Indian kids in the most amazing ways. Looking forward to the YouTube Kids Indian avatar and great collaborations with them.”

    Sesame Workshop MD Sashwati Banerjee added, “At Sesame India we believe in the power of engaging parents in interacting with children. In addition to our kids-centric videos, we have recently launched a series of webisodes for parents hosted by the popular Bollywood actor, Twinkle Khanna on topics like self-confidence, bullying, resolving conflict, consent and many more which will be available on the YouTube Kids’ app. We believe YouTube Kids will be a great platform for parents and kids to build new practices for child care and learning.”

    Parental Control features of the YouTube Kids app:

    ● Search settings: Automated Prompt allows you to make a choice about how broadly you want your child to explore – turn search on to access millions of family-friendly videos, or turn search off to restrict your child’s experience to a more limited set. Either way, parents decide the right experience for their family from the get-go.

    ● Timer: Let the app be the bad guy with a built-in timer that lets you limit kids’ screen time. The app alerts your child when the session is over, so you don’t have to. (You’re welcome. 😉

    ● Sound settings: Sometimes you need a little peace and quiet! You have an option to turn off background music and sound effects, so your kids can keep watching while parents catch a breath.

    ● Passcode and restricting certain content: Parents have the ability to set their own passcode, and to access settings and other parental information in the app.

    ● YouTube Kids on the big screen: You can now also watch YouTube Kids as a family on your big screen using Chromecast, Apple TV, game consoles or a smart TV.