*Trigger Warning* AIBU to not understand how this YouTuber isn't being investigated for child abuse?

[milkmilklemonade12]

So I actually found out about this channel via another large forum I post on. Essentially, a YouTube channel which is called DaddyOFive (it's reasonably large, around three quarters of a million subscribers) centres around a blog made by the father, with 5 children. The upshot of it is, people were angry about how the family, lead by the father; bully one of their children Cody, and pass it off as just 'good old fashioned parenting!'

At first until I checked out the videos I honestly thought it couldn't be that bad. I was horribly wrong. Some of the videos are entitled:
Dad burns Cody's Pokemon cards
Dad destroys son's DS
Dad forces son to throw away his toys
I'm sending Cody to military school

In their most recent video, because Cody had been bad (smeared poop on the walls; a recognised sign of abuse and distress), they took all the other kids to DisneyLand.

These videos are horrific, and despite them being located in the US, I really feel like CPS should be investigating and YouTube should shut the channel down for child abuse.

If you can bear to watch the videos, the guy's name is DaddyOFive, and I'd urge you to take a few minutes and report their videos for child abuse. I really don't understand how in this day and age, this kind of thing isn't investigated more quickly. The child is sobbing, and regularly in horrendous distress at the bullying at the hands of his parents and siblings, so these videos could trigger people; that's why I haven't directly linked them and why I've placed a warning on the top of my post.

Reporting the video will hit them where it hurts: if people ask for them to be taken down, they will lose their advertising revenue. Something tells me that will bother them more than being investigated by child protection.

You don't have to watch it to report. Just click on the three dots in the top right hand corner.

I caught DC1 watching one of their videos recently, it's sickening the way they abuse him. Idk how they get away with it and how fucked up do you have to be to subscribe to this. I struggle to comprehend how anybody could be that vile. It seems the other DC also single out Cody and deliberately get him riled up or frame him for stuff.

Why the heck would it be about the SacconeJolys? Because they put Alessia down on her front? That's the current controversy and the only thing I can think of... It would be a bit of an OTT reaction to that. These DaddyOFive videos sound disgusting, luckily I've never had the displeasure to stumble across them (and I watch a lot of youtube).

I'm a occasional MN lurker but I had to register to say thanks to the OP for the heads up on this; I flagged that fuckers' channel for child abuse. What a piece of shite.

I think all of the "YouTube families" are abusive to a certain extent. They are using their children to make a living. It's a fucked up dynamic. And also awkward when some things become glaringly obvious - like the Irish YouTubers where the mother blatantly favours her son. These things happen in families, but they aren't usually broadcast to millions. There is another YTing family whose son died in the night. After a break of bout a week, they were back as normal to 'entertain' everyone. It was staggering.

I'm not sure how I know of this channel but I have come across it, might have been christmas time and something to do with elf on the shelf. I'm glad they are now being investigated, the video I saw had the dad using the most disgusting language and threatening behaviour towards his dc and the children where violent to each other.

I'm currently trying (it's horrible...) to watch one of their videos. What the heck?

The little boy is hysterical, his brother tries to stand up to him (he couldn't have done it!) and get screamed at as well. And is also crying now...

There's no way they are in on it. And the mother's diabolical glee when she prepares the scene ("invisible" ink on the carpet)? It's really awful.

I reported the video.

But I fear they will be simply taken down (and the parents may continue... Just for thei own sick enjoyment).

I can't quite wrap my head around these, I don't understand the purpose of the videos - they're disturbing to say the least. dad is a bully and the older brother seems to be copying this behaviour. There is no way in hell this little boy is enjoying this. I've attached screen shots of just one of the vids! One is dad trying to pull the little boy out of a cabinet where he is hiding himself away from him, one is him crying in frustration and one is him hiding and sobbing in the corner of his room which FYI is a total hell hole. There's no sheets even on his bed!!!

You don't have to watch it to report. Just click on the three dots in the top right hand corner.

Can't work that out, sorry if being thick! I can't see a way to report the channel on the channel page. I clicked on the first video I could see, paused it immediately and clicked the dots and reported. You have to watch a certain amount of secs for a view to register I believe. Can I do it a better way?

KingsCross yes I was astonished by the Bratayleys continuing vlogging once their son died. I've never watched them except to see if this was actually a true situation, after hearing about it on the grapevine. So distateful at the very least. I can't comprehend that to be honest. I bet their subscribers and views jumped hugely once that happened though, soooo.... Sick.

jess that pic looks like a very young child and, even in the still, a very distressed child. I'm going to look into reporting without clicking.

Thank you SO much everyone, and also to the poster who gave the email address to Maryland child services. I'll be writing an email; if you have a few minutes spare in the next couple of days I'd be really happy if you could write a few lines alerting them to this scumbag.

I personally don't feel Cody is old enough to be 'in on it'. In the video when his father tells him he's been bad so he's having him adopted (and starts packing his stuff!) Cody is screaming and begging not to be placed for adoption. Every time he buries his face in his pillow to cry; his father faces the camera (that I believe his MOTHER is holding) and does a silent, side holding fake laugh and makes 'I can't believe this!' faces. Even afterwards, when his father goes up to Cody's room to 'make it up' and says 'you know I'd never give you away, riiiiight buddyyy?' Cody stares at his iPad and makes awkward body movements and tries to change the subject. That is not the behaviour of a child 'in on a joke'. He is trying to deflect because he thinks if he accepts the apology, his father will get angry at him again. That is a learned behaviour. I know because I did it with my own dad.

Additionally, id like to point out that if THIS is the edited video, that they're willing to put out to the entire world... what else is going on that the world isn't being shown?

Awful I too have reported this.

JessKM thank you for finding Maryland CPS:

[email protected]

I've reposted it again in case people are viewing per 25 messages.

After a little digging, it seems that a US Redditor tipped off Fox5, which is a news station based in DC. Apparently the family is from somewhere in Maryland. Seemingly, the station is going to run a piece on this PoS 5/6/11pm, DC time. Hopefully, that'll get something going with the CPS in Maryland.

According to their 'block the haters' video they claim they have already been investigated by child services and no abuse was found/"nothing to see here". They need to look into it further then and look at the footage (the second guy in the BBC link argues it very well). Yes, there are talented child actors out there but Cody isn't acting and makes it clear he does not want to be part of it anymore.
It's fantastical how the parents seem to think it's just pranking/banter and screaming/swearing at 1000 decibels is okay.
I'd be ashamed of that footage, they seem to revel in it, claim to be 'misunderstood', kids have final edit etc They ask Cody if he's happy. Interestingly he responds 'there aren't reasons for him to be unhappy'.
I admit I'm not a great fan of family YouTubers (find it fake/exploitative/living through a lens). My DD loves Naiah and Ellie. At least they do appear to be having fun.
The DaddyOFive is grim viewing. Maybe they hope to be America's next reality TV family but it really is lowest of the low. I am not a fan of practical jokes or the crazy sanchez/Jackass type stuff tbh (if I was forced to, I'd watch Trigger happy TV or the Impractical jokers).
None of the above used children though to be the butt of the joke.
When Cody grows up and does a Columbine I, for one, won't be surprised.

I have emailed the Maryland CPS - thank you for that email address.

I sat and watched one and a half videos. In one of them you could see one child flinching away from his father. Absolutely shocking, horrible to see.

Additionally, id like to point out that if THIS is the edited video, that they're willing to put out to the entire world... what else is going on that the world isn't being shown? This is exactly what I put in my email. Along with the links to a couple of the videos.

*@BendydickCuminsnatch:

Go to his YT channel, click on 'About' and look for the 'flag' icon right of centre of the screen. You'll be able to follow it from there.

I mean... They have a Cody gets put up for adoption video? :=0 And people keep liking this stuff (they have a surprising amount of likes :( )

I hope Cody gets the help he needs, this is sick. I think I'll have DH write Maryland CPS a mail (English isn't my first language).

This is awful.

I wholeheartedly agree with everyone's posts, it's frightening that there seems so many people 'like' these acts, and good to know that everyone here seems to be in agreement, I too have emailed Maryland DCFS, I'm hoping that they will have to act when a lot of people do it. Il be including the screenshots of the video that I watched in my email. That little boy is not happy.

The PP that mentioned 'doing a columbine' - I think that's a frighteningly accurate and sad prediction for this poor boys future

The still of that little boy's distressed face has made me feel sick. I cannot watch the videos but have emailed Maryland's childrens services.

No one should ever roar and shout at another human in that way, never mind a child. I am disgusted, watched about 2 minutes of the ink video before I switched off. Those children need to be removed from that environment. I cannot believe they post this online for the world to see and have had no fallout.

Watched one video (the DS one) and was so shocked. Poor little boy.

The dad seems to have massive anger management issues. The other children seem to be targeting him too in a way to keep themselves safe. My DM was similar to this - picking on one of us at a time - and I'm ashamed to say at times I sided with my mum to keep myself safe. Looks like that's going on here.

What on earth is being said and done off camera?!

I've reported the videos. Hope this is thoroughly looked into.

I have reported , I didn't even need to watch much.
shame on google, the world fucking richest company letting this stand. please everyone report the videos and lets keep this thread running

I am shaken

They apparently do it for 'pranks'.

Breaking your child's toys in front of their eyes and threatening to put them up for adoption is not a prank.