I have a confession to make. I love watching family shows on You Tube. This also includes families with small children. And I’m not the only one. Some have been on You Tube for years, literally their whole lives. But this Washington Post article got me thinking. ?Child You Tube stars: When every moment is caught?
So, the article stars with talking about a You Tube show. A six-year-old flaps his arms acting really dramatic. They’re conducting an experiment. As a result of being on You Tube all his life, he knows exactly how to act. Furthermore, the subscribers, likes, and positive comments roll in. In addition to that, the article suggests child stars don’t interest Americans as much. That’s so 20th century. But now, it’s about real life kids, and the daily tracking of life on You Tube. But what will happen when these kids grow in in this new world order?
This is what worries some. About the channel Washington Post talks about: they capture just about every move. The oldest sister, 10, records and films sleepovers with friends. The youngest, 3, knows how to vlog with an iPad. They even record their Halloween adventures. But how much is too much? This isn’t unique. You don’t even have to be a You Tube star. On my Facebook page, parents often put kids’ report cards for all to see. They also seem to record every accomplishment.
So you see, Generation Z (those born after 1996) is in a dilemma. Most will never know a time pre-social media. But what about when they get into the real world? Will shoving a camera or smartphone in your face be the normal for them? Will privacy rights be as extinct as the dinosaur? What does this have to do with IT? So, today’s information technology allows every move to be recorded. I admit…it might seem cute at first. But I do respect the family channels I look at. They make sure their kids have some privacy and normalcy. They will not record certain things. On some days, they won’t record at all. So You Tube kids: What will become of them?