CRUNCHY NUGGETS: Earlier this week, I wrote about web sites catering to the entourages that surround babies and kids. Along the same kid-friendly-thought path, I read an interesting article in USA Today. And I also said “it’s about time” as a parent. It was in the 8/13 Tech section about child-appropriate video share sites.
As almost every parent who has ever had computer time with their child knows, share sites can be filled with content “land mines.” Seemingly on-target posts can actually be terribly inappropriate content for kids. Particularly when it comes to videos, as “like videos” are served up next to selected videos for viewing. And so it’s only natural to go ahead and click and…YIKES! Two sites, feeding into YouTube content, have solved this issue: totlol and ZuiTube. Neither feature advertising. Both are for kids 3-12. Totlol charges a fee and has a subscriber base, so it’s community based. And ZuiTube — which is free — features videos that have been pre-screened by parents and teachers.
What’s interesting about these new sites….1. They were born out of insight (go, strategy go!) — parents’ needs; and 2. They demonstrate media habits of parents and their kids. Today’s parents are using online as another form of entertainment, a shared form. And these are kids who will grow up seeing online as, indeed, a source for interesting, unique content. A far cry from TV, radio, and the traditional. Hmm! Here’s the article’s URL if you need it: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/edwardbaig/2009-08-12-kid-friendly-streaming-videos_N.htm.
And hey, I’ve gotta go…It’s Peanut Butter Jelly Time! TASTY TREND: Socially Acceptable; Parenting 2.0
