To ban my child from watching YouTube

[tammyrae]

My DS is three. We suspect he has ASD. He doesn’t sleep well and is often overstimulated. He’ll watch something on YouTube repeatedly whilst flapping or running around and if I try to turn it off, he has a meltdown. He gets upset if something in his head doesn’t exist on YouTube. For example, Pikachu reciting the ABCs (he’s hyperlexic and loves Pokémon). If he enjoys something, he’ll demand to watch it again and again and again. I have to say no sometimes and it causes chaos.

Anyway, I’ve told him YouTube is broken and there’s only CBeebies for now. My friend thinks I’m being mean taking an important source of comfort away from him. Also thinking of having no TV after tea as the blue light may be affecting his sleep.

AIBU?

I think YouTube can be awful as it provides so much access to utter rubbish. Unboxing videos and game walkthroughs are soul destroying. We limit it here to a few channels (an art one and a loom band one). Otherwise we use iPlayer for shows.

You’re right.

I have a nearly 6 Yr old and we never let her watch YouTube. It's just not required. She only found out it existed when she went to school and other children talked to her about it. YANBU

You can do as you see fit with your own child op.
Your friend is being ridiculous.
Hope you make some improvement with it!

Well my child doesn't have autism and I banned it years ago.
One because when it was time to stop watching it she'd kick off quite bad.
And two because there is just a load of rubbish on it.
It's not needed though is it.
So no she doesn't watch all the rubbish other people watch but no doubt she would given half the chance!

I banned YouTube for my autistic kid. I don't limit any other screens but the way YouTube works was actually really not helpful for him. It didn't help him regulate, it just wound him up more. Constantly clicking for the next and next video while never watching anything.

He is now older and allowed to watch some specific shows on it. But I've never regretted stopping him watching those bloody unboxing videos. It was also way too hard to control what he saw on it.

My 6 year old is allowed very occasional, supervised access to it to watch drawing tutorials to copy. I removed it from the TV as it's full of rubbish so I have to log in on my phone and set it up myself each time now - but as I say, only once in a while. YANBU.

I don't mind youtube. My son went through a phase of watching shuttle launches on it. He loved it.

My daughter is in a Caillou phase and is trying to learn French from watching it in the original. She also loves that he 'looks like daddy'. I also love that it's a positive portrayal of someone with no hair.

YouTube has tons of rubbish but it isn't all terrible. I personally have really got into some commentaries on Jane Austen and Shabbat recipes which are great for my milk allergic son.

I get needing a break from watching the same thing over and over again but if it works for him where is the harm?

Dd is 6 and I have completely banned it. Her behaviour has been incredible since.

She was only watching kiddie stuff, but there’s something about YouTube that turns kids feral.

She’s allowed CBeebies and Netflix programs I have ok’d. Honestly best thing ever for her and you’ll probably find the same.

I've banned it too. It’s full of rubbish and it does something to my kids that other stuff doesn’t seem to do - they turn a bit feral and get really rude and cheeky, kick off when I say it’s time to turn it off now and they get really addicted to it. They’re allowed Netflix and CBeebies instead. There’s no benefit to kids watching utter rubbish on YouTube.

My DC are 10 and 8 have no YouTube. At 3 years old only CBeebies is appropriate - and only some programmes at that.

It’s so bizarre. My instincts told me it was harming his development even though he only watches kid stuff.

Also, they were very annoyed when I first banned it and had tantrums etc about not being allowed to watch it but they soon forgot about it - so just be strong initially and stick to your guns. In the long run it’s better.

A 3yr old doesn’t need YouTube

Why would a 3YO need YouTube? I’m no screen obsessive DD the same age loves a princess film on Disney plus or Peppa episode but I’d never let her loose on YouTube.

You could be describing my DS with your post op. He's currently on the ASD pathway and YouTube affects him the same way so I have banned it.

YouTube is terrible. I've put a lock on ours which is useful for older kids who have worked out how to get it on the TV

Absolutely ban YouTube. My 3 and 5 year old have no does it exists and I plan on keeping it that way for as long as possible.

My 4 year old watches some things on it, but only things that we choose znd put on. He loves some of the old cartoons that I grew up with and I like that, but we watch it with him and he isn't in control.

I hate the stuff my 8 year old watches, utter mind fluff, like 20 min videos of slime and videos of kids playing computer games, or thd unboxing ones. Absolute drivel!

YouTube is tough because it is full of excellent stuff but also full of rubbish, and the algorithm is so good at pulling you down a rabbit hole of sh*t. One good feature to use is the 'Not interested/Don't recommend me this channel' button on any videos which pop up on the homepage/in the recommended section which you don't want your kids watching. If you spend a few minutes doing this you can begin to "curate" a better selection of recommended videos for anyone using YouTube (you need to have an account). Also, YouTube Premium gets rid of Ads and gives you more customization which IMO is totally worth it for £7 per month (We spend a huge amount of time on YouTube so it is worth it for me).

We banned it a month ago for DS and DD. They are 9 and 7 and have had to tell them it’s bad for their brains, as they couldn’t grasp why we’d not let them have it. One week of pain, no problem at all now.