Millions of people around the world use YouTube. The content is strong, and there is something for everyone, from the young to the old. However, the platform is not always the best place for the young ones, which is why Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) has chosen to release a YouTube app for children.
According to the search giant, the app should be available on Monday, but folks should bear in mind that they will only be able to give it a spin on Android. We’re sure an iOS version is in the pipeline, but those who are fans of the Windows Phone platform should not expect a thing, ever.
This app is a big deal since parents have been rallying for a YouTube app just for children for a long time now, and Google is only just delivering on the demand.
“Parents were constantly asking us, can you make YouTube a better place for our kids,” says Shimrit Ben-Yair, the project’s group product manager, noting that family-friendly fare is a booming business on YouTube. “(Year over year) we’ve seen 50% growth in viewing time on YouTube, but for our family entertainment channels, it’s more like 200%.”
The app should make searching YouTube more child and parent-friendly. From what we’ve come to understand, the UI will be simple since the developers did away with all the distracting elements. Icons are larger than when compared to the regular YouTube app, and it should be faster too.
Furthermore, there’s a parent control timer that allows parents to set the app to turn off automatically after a certain period. Not only that, Google made some cool changes to the search area. If a child should attempt to search for “sex,” the app will provide a pop message that says “try something else.”
Children these days are smart, so we hope parents work alongside technology to make sure their children never search for something online that they should not have in the first place.
