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Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Children Posting On YouTube Discussion Threads- A Recipe For Danger

Edited by Azizi Powell

Revised - October 28, 2017

An article entitled "Home Computer Access and Internet Use" http://www.childtrends.org/?indicators=home-computer-access indicates that

"In 2011, almost six out of ten children ages three to 17 used the Internet at home (58 percent), nearly six times as many as in 1997 (11 percent). Eighty-three percent had a computer at home, up from 15 percent in 1984.

Home access to computers and the Internet has expanded dramatically over the last two decades, and the ways children, youth, and adults use these tools are in rapid flux, as new technologies are developed. For example, Internet-enabled devices now include not only computers, but televisions, electronic books, and other handheld devices such as music players and cell-phones. Increasingly, the lines are blurred between computers and many other types of electronic media.

Young people are most likely to use a computer for social networking, playing games, and watching videos"...
-end of quote-

According to http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/dec/04/youtube-google-search-kids-open-thread, "YouTube has a massive audience of children watching videos already, even if they’re not (in theory) allowed to sign up for an account."
-end of quote-

Facebook and YouTube discussion threads aren’t meant to be a safe space for children. But it may be more dangerous for children to write comments on YouTube discussion threads than it is for them to write comments on their family's and friends’ Facebook walls. Presumably, if and when children post on their parents' or their older siblings' Facebook pages, it is more likely that they are talking to people they know.

I'm concerned that children may think that posting comments on YouTube music discussion threads is a safe way of interacting with people who like the same music that they do, when in fact commenting on YouTube- and even sharing contact information such as their instagram address is quite dangerous.

Children can post on these discussion threads regardless of their ages either via their own account or by using their parent’s or other adults' or teen's accounts. Therefore what is worrisome is not just the ways that children post on these discussion threads, but the very fact that children can posts on these discussion threads whether the music video is supposedly geared for children or is supposedly geared for adults and teens.

Take for example this Hip Hop dance style video:

@DJLILMAN973 - SUPA M. THEME ( Team Lilman Anthem 2 ) OFFICIAL VIDEO



DJ LILMAN, Published on Dec 30, 2014
-snip-
Unlike some other Hip Hop dance centered videos, there's no cursing in that song, and there are no sexually explicit references or violent content in the song or in the video. Three young girls are included among the dancers in this video, which might further suggest to children viewing the video that it is okay for them to post comments about the video and engage in conversations with others about the video and/or the song.

However, that video's discussion thread contains some cursing and children will read those comments. But I'm even more concerned about the possibility of children being lured into dangerous situations by someone posting on that discussion thread. Lately I've noticed more instances of people on YouTube discussion threads posting their phone numbers. I've also found more instances of people engaging in chit chat with other commenters, which wouldn't be so bad if people like Subway's former spokesperson weren't out and about in the world preying on kids.

Here are some examples that I've culled from that Team Lilman Anthem 2 discussion thread - with the reminder that I don't have any problem with that particular song or video- It's the climate we live that I have a problem with.

Christian Jones, February 2015
"+Saleena Jackson you are hot by the way this Chris I'm 17"

****
keyyah hart, February 2015
"Lol i got it me nd my friend was doing this all day we dont know all of it but we know the beginning we still learning the end part to clappers remix"
**
Bestie Best friend, February 2015
Reply
"+keyyah hart if u want I can teach u the whole thing

**
keyyah hart, February 2015
Reply
"Yea sure +shakyrah taylor"

****
Nikia Brito, March 2015
"Come and get me I'm a dancer"

****
Nakeisha Glover, February 2015
"I love you lil man can you come meet me"

****
[comments given in consecutive order]
Parker Forbes, September 2015
"The girl in front of the song she died fire"

**
Latoya Byrd, September 2015
Reply
"+Parker Forbes you is a lie no she did not"

**
Parker Forbes, September 2015
Reply
"Can I see your profile"

**
Parker Forbes, September 2015
"Kayla bullock who are you"

**
Parker Forbes, September 2015
"Yooo"

**
Parker Forbes, September 2015
"Who wit it"

**

Tiffany Brewster, September 2015
"Bsjgkdhz Dr y TX h XT ehd"

**
Amber Rencher, October 2015
"I Love you friend and make sure you call love to dance studios."

**
Parker Forbes, October 2015
"+Amber Rencher what's your number"

**
Sonia Smith, October 2015
"+Amber Rencher"

**
Angel Crespi, November 2015
"dude y ur vids got a little bit views"

**
Parker Forbes, November 2015
"Ok"

****
[comments given in consecutive order]

January 2015
DJ LILMAN Shared on Google+
"@DJLILMAN973 - SUPA M. THEME ( Team Lilman Anthem 2 ) OFFICIAL VIDEO"

**
briana smalls
"my brother is in the that song"

**
Unique Whitley
"Yessss"

**
gianni Dixon
Reply
"Which one is ur brother"

**
Bestie Best friend
Reply
"+briana smalls who you're brother"

**
Bestie Best friend
"Who ya brother"

**
Bestie Best friend
"+briana smalls who ya brother"

**
Katrina Lee
"I have a crush on dj lol man."

**
Bestie Best friend
Reply
"+Katrina Lee are u for real"

**
Neveah Warren
"Who your brother"

**
Katrina Lee
"Shakyrah you are aunt Vanessa daughter"

**
Katrina Lee
"DJ Lil man I got his number give me your number so I can give it to you"

**
Neveah Warren
Reply
"No"

**
Neveah Warren
Reply
"No no no no"

**
Kesha Williams
Reply
"+Neveah Warren"

**
February 2015
Lakesha Smith
"hydeqwqwertgjm,./ []'ASDFGJKLAsdfghjkl;ASDFGHJKL;ASDFGHJKL \AZSDFGH BNMJKL;DFGHJMM,ASDFGHJK.AsdfgbnmAQSWDFGYCG76SDFTGORFGJL;LOIZS bsdfgdjklslaSDFGVBJNMYTGF,DSZ\ZASWDCFGVBNM76YTRE,WA\c vb8921eu98233i7828wqu22wqigwq8YQ7E2988I28U129QWYHAUUA9QY7Asdwew23y78ewuqahsuuaiw8udut6 NMNBDE6YJWYS2ERDRP342ORVY3EFUEGYDGEB3YCFBEWXHB ZHBX ZHNBZXJAsi SDFGHJKL;a|"}|''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''yu7qwe236y23qsdfGUJIREWQDCFVGBNJM}z'\'\''''Z"

**
Lakesha Smith
"+Lakesha Smith ke'muual qqqqqqqqqqqqqqwertyuiop=\aSDFGHJKLL; Asdfghjklll; [[]' |zxcvbnm,./"

**
Lakesha Smith
"+Lakesha Smith"

**
Bestie Best friend
"+Katrina Lee uhhhh yea are u Alasia's mom"

**
Bestie Best friend
"+Katrina Lee are u my cuzin"

**
Neveah Warren
Reply
"Who"

**
Bestie Best friend
Reply
"Not u"

**
Neveah Warren
Reply
"Oh"

**
Katrina Lee
"hey shakyrah this Noonie"

**
Bestie Best friend
Reply
"Hey Noonie"

**
Bestie Best friend
"+Katrina Lee wat up"

**
Layl L
"Can I join your team I'm awesome dancer just like your cool pretty daughter"

**
Wichie Picart
Reply
"Life is hard"

**
Layl L
"So"

**
syid afrika
Reply
"So what what you mean soooooo"

**
Ra'Naja Whiting
"+syid afrika"

**
FranDesan Santana
"+Ra'Naja Whiting"

**
April 2015
Zahir Hernandez
"DJ lil man"

**
Layl L
"So"

**
dasilkey1
"+butterflygirl lay"

**
May 2015
Lakale Saxton
"stop saying so little girl and you probley look like a dummy"

**
Gionna Thompson
"Gionna"

**
Sanaa Rogers
Reply
"+Lakale Saxton they are not a dummy dummy"

**
Layl L
Reply
"+Sanaa Rogers mind ur biz"

-end of comment examples-

Given the increase in internet use in homes, schools, and elsewhere in the community, it's probably a losing battle to try to keep children off of YouTube video music sites that appeal to their age group as well as to teens and adults.

YouTube has a prompt that people should report spam or abuse. But I don't think that YouTube is talking about the kind of abuse that worries me. My position is that adults need to monitor what their children and the children they are responsible for do online. Furthermore, we need to talk to children about the dangers of online social networking. Adults need to tell children that recording artists, dancers, and others who are in YouTube videos or say that they are in YouTube videos aren't their friends. Furthermore, children should be taught that people who post comments online aren't their friends. They shouldn't engage in chit chat with them and they should never share personal information with them. If children do post online comments, they should ignore people they don't know who try to engage them in conversation.

I'm interested in your comments and suggestions about this subject. How do we help children protect themselves online?

****
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