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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To feel troubled by what I saw on the bus this morning

10 replies

Carrotsurprise · 21/05/2025 13:33

I was on the bus this morning near the buggy space, a mum had a toddler in a pushchair and gave her her phone to play with. The kid was looking at Instagram or Tiktok, not sure which platform but was just scrolling through videos and I could see. At first it was all quite innocent looking stuff like a which dress do you prefer quiz, and kids dancing around playing with slime, standard slop you might find on kids youtube. Then soon after the mum stopped looking, there was a cartoon video of what might have been Roblox, where a man was running around with a gun and shot a sheep and a couple other animals, blood and onto the next video. Next video was a shirtless teen appearing to compare his friends' boobs, then another shirtless teen came along, pulled a toy gun out of his underwear and shot the other guy, he fell to the ground and the girls cheered and rubbed the guy's nipples. Then the mum had another good luck at the screen by which point it was showing dolls. I didn't see any "adult" content really but not suitable for a toddler at all. And I found it so unsettling that the dodgier stuff went by so quickly that it happened in the interval where the mum wasn't looking. I might have said something if an inappropriate video had been showing at that moment, but by the time I had processed what I was looking at the video had already ended. And of course it's none of my business but she might have no idea what kind of content her toddler sees. And beyond just this one toddler, it worries me if it's a common thing for small children to have access to these kinds of uncurated short videos that could be showing them absolutely anything. I just feel really disturbed by it.

OP posts:
Marcusparkus · 21/05/2025 18:00

On one hand, yes it is troubling, but the again, I grew up waiting Benny Hill and Carry On films. We thought they were hilarious. In reality I grew up with a really disturbed view of myself, femininity and women in general. So yes, it's harmful, but media always has been.

Redpeach · 21/05/2025 18:08

Yep its really sad

Stripeyanddotty · 21/05/2025 18:15

I was reading a thread earlier where a poster has deleted YouTube from an iPad after her 5 year old was completely freaked out about a YouTube Short he had seen. She said he is so upset that he doesn’t ask for the iPad any more.
It’s so depressing what children are exposed to.

MidnightPatrol · 21/05/2025 18:19

That is why these platforms have an age limit on them.

MiloMinderbinder925 · 21/05/2025 18:22

My child has anxiety. He spends all day in his room on social media, doesn't get any exercise, fresh air or socialise. Yes he's had an iPad since he was a toddler and I've never monitored it, what's that got to do with his mental health?

Stripeyanddotty · 21/05/2025 18:24

🙄

Marcusparkus · 22/05/2025 01:45

MiloMinderbinder925 · 21/05/2025 18:22

My child has anxiety. He spends all day in his room on social media, doesn't get any exercise, fresh air or socialise. Yes he's had an iPad since he was a toddler and I've never monitored it, what's that got to do with his mental health?

Not sure how sarcasm adds to the OP...

Readytohealnow · 22/05/2025 01:52

With lazy parents like that around our kids don’t stand a chance.

Musclewoman · 22/05/2025 01:55

MiloMinderbinder925 · 21/05/2025 18:22

My child has anxiety. He spends all day in his room on social media, doesn't get any exercise, fresh air or socialise. Yes he's had an iPad since he was a toddler and I've never monitored it, what's that got to do with his mental health?

Is this satire?!

DreamTheMoors · 22/05/2025 02:57

If it’s not one thing, it’s your mother.

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