YouTube can be very interesting and addictive for kids. This is not bad in general especially when your kid starts developing an interest in becoming a YouTube star herself. So when your kid think of becoming a YouTube star does not discourage them, all you need to do is keep a watchful eye on them.
It is normal for kids to get obsessed with YouTube videos because it isn’t that different from performing on stage, the only difference that the audience isn’t family and friends but the world. Your kid will only see the positive side of the channel and not understand how this could impact their lives. As a parent your need to offer guidance and support so that he or she can do this safely. Admittedly, allowing children to post videos on the internet can be a bit scary, but it doesn’t have to be. As long as parents actively participate and monitor their child’s activity it is entirely possible for children to safely start their own YouTube channel. Do not feel as though you can’t do anything, with the steps below you will get started in now time:
Steps to take when starting a YouTube channel for your kid
1. Think about what you want to achieve
Before you do anything, you need to figure out what you’re hoping to get out of building a presence on YouTube. This will help you decide what type of videos you want to create and define the right audience for your content. So, if your kid wants to create contents for business then their target audience would be potential customers.
Having a goal in mind from the start means you’ll be creating content that your audience will want to subscribe to, bookmark, and share with a friend or colleague. If you focus on content that is useful to your audience, your viewers will see you as a trusted resource of information. If people like your kids content, this will lead to more subscribers.
2. Know the rules
It is said that knowledge is power because with it you know what to do. Hence, it is important that you know that YouTube forbids children under the age of 13 to create their own accounts and children between 133 and 17 are only allowed to open accounts with parental permission. However, the rules do not say that parents can’t open an account for their child; so this is allowed. In fact, it is happening all over YouTube and there are kids with lots of subscribers that are way below the age of 13. So, the great news is that you can open a YouTube channel for your kid and help them to do what they so dearly want. Give them a chance to express themselves and show the world what they can do.
How to set it up
Create a Gmail account for your child if he or she is under 13 years old. This will give him or her a YouTube account but not a YouTube channel.
Create a YouTube channel by clicking on ‘Select My Channel’ on the sidebar on the left side of the YouTube homepage. This is where users can select the name to be associated with their YouTube channel. Make sure not to use your kids real or full name, since names will be broadcasted to anyone watching the videos.
Set the privacy settings so that everything is private or unlisted. Private means that only those you invite to view the channel will be able to see them. In addition, turn off comments so that your kid will not have to read any unkind or inappropriate remark from mean users. It is important to note that, the privacy setting makes it that only friends and family can view your child’s page, which is great when it comes to keeping her safe; not so great if he or she wants to build a following.
Tips on how to keep your child safe
Apart from the privacy settings, it is vital that you physically keep surveillance on your kid’s activity online. Confirm that their contents do not accidentally expose personal information. It is recommended that your kid does not show themselves in their videos but this will also depend on what type of videos your kid wants to do. It may be difficult but make sure to watch any video your child post online as soon as possible. To better carry out this function, you can help your child edit and upload the videos. In order to this, you need to learn about editing software which will make you fit to do the task well.
1. When uploading the video there are three viewing options:
- Unlisted: Only those with the link can view the video.
- Private: Only those invited to watch the video can access it.
- Public: Everyone has access and it can show up in searches on YouTube.
Always ensure geo tagging is turned OFF so that no one can see your child’s location.
2. Put limits on recording time
Just like any other kind of screen time, make sure to put a time range on the amount of time each video will take. You can’t let YouTube take all of your kid’s time. They need to also do other things as well. Things that are also interesting and cool or have some other games that will engage them. This helps to prevent them from spending all of their time on YouTube videos and at least have time for other activities that kids should do.
3. Make a video with them
You need to show your love and support in everything your kids do. It can be a fun family activity if you help your kid make a video to publish online. They will love the time they spend with you making the video and you will also be able to spice it up with some adult flare.
In conclusion, starting a YouTube channel requires a time commitment from both parent and child and continues to do so long after it’s up and running. Therefore, parents should ensure that they have the time to monitor their child’s activity before giving them the green light to become the next YouTube sensation. Remember that, kids are very smart and more tech savvy, as they grow up they will learn to handle the app better so make sure that you discuss with them. Let them know about the importance of being safe online. Why they have to do or not do certain things and how to respond and react to comments if their notification is put on. Always treat your kid as a partner and allow them to be able to make decisions on how they want their social media life to be.
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