YouTube launches a kid-friendly app
Parents who want to share the fun of YouTube with their children without having to worry about them stumbling onto less-than-appropriate videos will soon have that option.
YouTube Kids, a free app for Android mobile devices, will be released Feb. 23.
The free app is designed to let children find the kind of content they enjoy and will include parental tools like a timer, to limit how long children can spend using it, and the ability to turn off the app鈥檚 sound and search function, according to Google, which owns YouTube.
Family-friendly videos will be divided into four categories:聽Shows, Music, Learning and Explore.
Content for the app will come from the likes of DreamWorks, Jim Henson TV, National Geographic Kids and Reading Rainbow. Google partnered with child-advocacy groups and other organizations to test the app before its release.
鈥淎t a time when a child鈥檚 access to media can be overwhelming and filled with empty calories, I鈥檓 excited that YouTube Kids is making this commitment to give families a safe environment to spark curiosity while still entertaining,鈥� said longtime 鈥淩eading Rainbow鈥� host LeVar Burton in a written statement.
鈥淩eading Rainbow鈥� will debut a new series on YouTube Kids, 鈥渦Tech,鈥� which聽explores technology in a kid-friendly way.
And yes, parents of toddlers, Thomas the Tank Engine will be there, too.
鈥淭he 鈥楾homas & Friends鈥� YouTube channel has been a meaningful platform for fans of all ages to discover the world of Thomas,鈥� Sid Mathur, a vice president with聽HIT Entertainment, the British-American company behind Thomas, 鈥淏arney,鈥� 鈥淏ob the Builder鈥� and other children鈥檚 favorites, said in a release.
鈥淵ouTube Kids surfaces the best of kids鈥� content from their bigger platform and encourages kids to safely explore and navigate through engaging videos.鈥�
Children鈥檚 advocacy group Common Sense Media called YouTube Kids a 鈥渟erious contender as a family鈥檚 go-to way for kids to watch videos online.鈥�
There was no word from Google on whether YouTube Kids will eventually be released for Apple鈥檚 iOS operating system or on other platforms. Android is a Google product as well.
Doug Gross is a staff writer covering personal finance for聽. Follow him on Twitter at聽聽and on聽.
