AIBU to think that watching YouTube videos is not a hobby?

[BogstandardBelle]

So the summer holidays are here (we’re in France, DSs school has just closed for exams so all the 11yr olds are left to their own devices for a week and a half until the official end of term). I’m around so childcare isn’t a problem, but I’m struggling with stopping DS from spending all his time on one device or another.

What would your 11-12 yr old do all day at home? I don’t mind him playing PS4 as he often hooks up with friends on there. I don’t mind him playing Minecraft as he’s at least engaged in something. What I do object to is hours spent watching YouTube videos, one after another. Everything from pranks to gaming vids to animal / pet things to medieval weapon restorations to science projects... some of them might fall under the «educational « heading, most don’t.

Thing is, DS has very few hobbies as such. He’s not interested in crafts. Not interested in puzzles, or toys - never has been. He’s a people person, and would be happy to hang out with friends 24/7, but that’s not possible. He has never been good at amusing Until recently, he’s been fine with reading, but claims we don’t have any good books...

Anyway, he maintains that watching YouTube vids is his hobby. Even if he doesn’t want to actually try anything science / magic tricks / crafty that he sees, he says that just watching it is enough. I totally disagree - I think it’s passive brain-numbing pap.

Amusing = amusing himself

give him a list of chores to do around the house? (I hate YouTube with passion)

I think his time should include seeing people, fresh air, physical activity, reading, playing games, helping out round the house etc. and his screen time.

When he has screen time I think watching YouTube videos is no different to playing games or watching telly and I think it's up to him how to spend his screen time. I wouldn't police that one activity. (Provided he's not watching porn or beheadings, obvs). Perhaps it is brain-numbing but there's nothing wrong with a certain amount of cognitive downtime. I stare out of windows for hours.

I also quite enjoy watching the weird shit my son finds on YouTube. His current favourite is watching people file out of buildings during fire alarms

You could say a lot of so-called hobbies are brain numbing. I think watching football is brain numbing. Ditto playing golf. Same for Minecraft.

He's entertained by the videos and enjoys them, so yes it's a hobby imho. Not saying he should do that and nothing else all day, but it's no worse than reading a book or magazine for an hour or two.

It's turned into a hobby in our house :( and to be honest I don't see any difference in playing games on a screen to watching youtube as long as they are watching some of the better quality stuff I don't have an issue with it, you can find out loads of interesting facts and how to do just about anything, so I use it myself for DIY jobs etc

But lots of it is pure trash so I get where you are coming from with the passive brain-numbing pap. I personally feel uncomfortable that my DS is spending so much time glued to one screen or another, its so different to the childhood I had that I wonder if its healthy and what it will lead to. Getting him to do anything else is like getting blood from a stone.

Reluctantly I say YABU its a hobby, but YANBU in wanting him to do something else.

God, I hate bloody YouTube!! I work with yr6 kids in a Primary School & what scares me is the number of them that seriously believe their career when they're older will be that of a YouTuber!! Nothing else- just that - simple, apparently - they just have to want it & it will be!! Can't tell you how many times I've heard, "Why do we need to know any of this 'stuff' Miss?" God help us.