Who Is the "You" in YouTube?

Our new research shows stereotypes & lack of diversity in YouTube videos. [Common Sense Logo]( [Who Is the "You" in YouTube?: Missed Opportunities in Race and Representation in Children's YouTube Videos]( Kids and teens spend more time than ever watching online videos—especially on YouTube. But [our new research]( finds that much of what they're watching on YouTube lacks diversity or features dangerous stereotypes. Here are some more quick facts from our report, which looked at videos watched by kids age 0 to 18: - In videos watched by 0- to 8-year-olds, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) character portrayals were shallow or missing almost three quarters of the time. - When BIPOC characters were featured in videos watched by 0- to 8-year-olds, they were more likely to contain violence, strong language, and drinking/drugs/smoking, compared to videos featuring White characters. - Videos aren't reflecting the actual ethnic diversity of American kids. The groups with significant lack of representation are Black, Latino, and multiracial people. - For tweens and teens, ethnic-racial stereotypes appeared in about 1 in 10 videos on average. This means that if tweens and teens watched 10 YouTube videos a day for a year, they might see 300 videos depicting stereotypes of BIPOC characters. Our [ongoing research]( shows that representation is important to how kids build their identities. We also know both parents and kids want content with diverse voices and stories that authentically reflect the world around them. YouTube could be a leader in elevating positive representations and fostering important conversations about race and ethnicity, but right now it's missing that opportunity. So what steps can we take to find diverse YouTube content for kids? We've got helpful resources for you and your family to find healthy content that supports all kids' well-being. Check them out! [YouTube channels with diverse representations]( There are also many other video platforms you can explore together, including [this list of YouTube alternatives](. You can find the [full research report here](. Our research and resources are possible thanks to our generous community of supporters like you. And remember, we're here to help you find high-quality, inclusive media with our resources, ratings, and reviews. We advocate for kids and families as we encourage tech platforms to minimize harm, safeguard privacy, and support healthy media and tech for all. —The team at Common Sense [Get answers to FAQs]( [Privacy policy]( [Manage email preferences]( Common Sense Media 699 8th Street, Suite C150 San Francisco, California 94103 © 2022 Common Sense Media. All rights reserved. [Unsubscribe](