YouTube Collects Data on Children

[DNichter]

So apparently Google is collecting data on children under 13 through YouTube. It honestly doesn't surprise me at all, but it's pretty disgusting that they continue to get away with it. If they do it through YouTube, no doubt in my mind that they are doing it through their Chromebooks as well. With privacy becoming more and more (should have a long time ago) prevalent in today's society, how long will they last when 95% of their business is reliant on their users' data?

https://www.theguardian.com/technol...-data-on-children-say-child-protection-groups

 

[5105973]

YouTube is forbidden for kids and teens in my household. If they need an instructional video they can see one on my iPad. Not that I even had to make a rule on it. The kids on their own were disturbed by some of the changes in their friends who are almost addicted to it. They are wary of YouTube on their own.

I did a little research on some of the You Tube channels popular with the tween age group and saw some questionable content. Pop Culture is rife with a lot of interesting hazards to impressionable young minds.

I know I use Google at my own risk. I've weighed the risk and the benefits and decided to take the benefits for now, given that information I would actually prefer to guard is available on public record data aggregation sites anyway. Like tax data on my house, all the addresses I've ever lived at, all the names of all the relatives I've ever lived with in America. So on and so forth. The stuff Google is tracking is a joke to me compared to what the government has already determined everybody and anybody has a right to know.

But the kids are another matter.

Thanks for the warning.

 

[DNichter]

YouTube is forbidden for kids and teens in my household. If they need an instructional video they can see one on my iPad. Not that I even had to make a rule on it. The kids on their own were disturbed by some of the changes in their friends who are almost addicted to it. They are wary of YouTube on their own.

I did a little research on some of the You Tube channels popular with the tween age group and saw some questionable content. Pop Culture is rife with a lot of interesting hazards to impressionable young minds.

I know I use Google at my own risk. I've weighed the risk and the benefits and decided to take the benefits for now, given that information I would actually prefer to guard is available on public record data aggregation sites anyway. Like tax data on my house, all the addresses I've ever lived at, all the names of all the relatives I've ever lived with in America. So on and so forth. The stuff Google is tracking is a joke to me compared to what the government has already determined everybody and anybody has a right to know.

But the kids are another matter.

Thanks for the warning.

I cut off any interaction with Google a few years ago for this reason. Search was obviously the last to go, but I just have a hard time supporting a business that only exists for advertising purposes. I don't have any kids, but it is certainly something I want to keep in mind for the future. I think privacy is only going to become a bigger and bigger focus for companies in America. I am not sure how Google will adapt.

 

[AlliFlowers]

Whatever will you do if your children attend a Google Apps school? Our entire district uses Google for Schools. We assign and collect homework, and grade tests using Google. It's not like you can opt out of Google in a case like this.

 

[DNichter]

Whatever will you do if your children attend a Google Apps school? Our entire district uses Google for Schools. We assign and collect homework, and grade tests using Google. It's not like you can opt out of Google in a case like this.

Well if all of this stuff comes to light, I would have a major issue with any school that continued to use Google services. I certainly have a choice in the matter, I don't have to send my kids to that school. I feel like if people 18 and over want to opt in and give Google access to all their info for advertising, then fine, but I can't agree with them doing the same thing to kids.

 

[jamezr]

YouTube is forbidden for kids and teens in my household. If they need an instructional video they can see one on my iPad. Not that I even had to make a rule on it. The kids on their own were disturbed by some of the changes in their friends who are almost addicted to it. They are wary of YouTube on their own.

I did a little research on some of the You Tube channels popular with the tween age group and saw some questionable content. Pop Culture is rife with a lot of interesting hazards to impressionable young minds.

I know I use Google at my own risk. I've weighed the risk and the benefits and decided to take the benefits for now, given that information I would actually prefer to guard is available on public record data aggregation sites anyway. Like tax data on my house, all the addresses I've ever lived at, all the names of all the relatives I've ever lived with in America. So on and so forth. The stuff Google is tracking is a joke to me compared to what the government has already determined everybody and anybody has a right to know.

But the kids are another matter.

Thanks for the warning.

I have a 10 year old son. He has his own phone under my plan. Needless to say I have his pin and password and monitor his phone all the time. I let him know...as a privilege of having a phone....he has no privacy on the phone. I check his messages all the time. His phone is locked down for content and security. I have had endless hours of conversations with him about what he sees online on YT. He doesn't have any other social media exposure except for YT. I show him examples daily of bad behavior by these YT stars.
I think YT is a very valuable tool. My son is a sponge for information. If he has a question about something and he looks it up on Google and invariably YT. He learns a great deal form this practice!

But my son is a little different than most kids his age. He is a product of divorce but has my FULL attention. I don't talk down to him. Instead i would rather raise his awareness. He gets positive re-enforcement from me all the time. His teachers marvel at his thinking....he is 10 going on 16 lol. He is very well behaved. He is one of those kids that does not care what others think of him. He is a little different and likes being that way. I like him that way too . We have hours and hours of discussions about peer pressure and bullying and just being himself....no matter what. Sometimes that makes it hard to parent a child that speaks his mind. But it is well worth the effort now as it will pay off later.

 

[DNichter]

I have a 10 year old son. He has his own phone under my plan. Needless to say I have his pin and password and monitor his phone all the time. I let him know...as a privilege of having a phone....he has no privacy on the phone. I check his messages all the time. His phone is locked down for content and security. I have had endless hours of conversations with him about what he sees online on YT. He doesn't have any other social media exposure except for YT. I show him examples daily of bad behavior by these YT stars.
I think YT is a very valuable tool. My son is a sponge for information. If he has a question about something and he looks it up on Google and invariably YT. He learns a great deal form this practice!

But my son is a little different than most kids his age. He is a product of divorce but has my FULL attention. I don't talk down to him. Instead i would rather raise his awareness. He gets positive re-enforcement from me all the time. His teachers marvel at his thinking....he is 10 going on 16 lol. He is very well behaved. He is one of those kids that does not care what others think of him. He is a little different and likes being that way. I like him that way too . We have hours and hours of discussions about peer pressure and bullying and just being himself....no matter what. Sometimes that makes it hard to parent a child that speaks his mind. But it is well worth the effort now as it will pay off later.

Sounds like you are taking very good steps to keep your son aware of the things he sees on the internet. It doesn't bother you that Google builds profiles on your son for advertising purposes though?

 

[jamezr]

Sounds like you are taking very good steps to keep your son aware of the things he sees on the internet. It doesn't bother you that Google builds profiles on your son for advertising purposes though?

I don't expect to have any privacy online. I think that is a given with today's technology.
I can visit Amazon...then the next page i visit has ads from Amazon. I think all companies build profiles of all the traffic that consumes it resources and apps. I am more wary of the ones that claim they don't to be honest.

 

[DNichter]

I don't expect to have any privacy online. I think that is a given with today's technology.
I can visit Amazon...then the next page i visit has ads from Amazon. I think all companies build profiles of all the traffic that consumes it resources and apps. I am more wary of the ones that claim they don't to be honest.

That's a shame then. I do feel like people should have the right to privacy when it comes to the products and services they use. If they so choose to opt in then that is totally fine, but I think companies need be much more transparent about the issue. If you don't care though then that's acceptable for you and your family.

 

[mi7chy]

Sounds like a parenting issue. I installed YouTube Kids and there were no ads, no sign in to track, no video comments and videos are whitelisted for kids. Plus, unlike iOS, Android supports profiles. So, the solution is YouTube Kids or teach kids responsibility and let them access YouTube. I prefer the later because YouTube is an educational and DIY goldmine. I fixed my leaky shower Mixet handle so easily over the weekend due to YouTube.

 

[DNichter]

Sounds like a parenting issue. I installed YouTube Kids and there were no ads, no sign in to track, no video comments and videos are whitelisted for kids. Plus, unlike iOS, Android supports profiles. So, the solution is YouTube Kids or teach kids responsibility and let them access YouTube. I prefer the later because YouTube is an educational and DIY goldmine. I fixed my leaky shower Mixet handle so easily over the weekend due to YouTube.

That's fair to say, but it sounds like the tracking/profiles are being created regardless. Either way, if you trust Google and don't have an alternative, makes sense to keep using.

 

[mi7chy]

For the parents that put in a little more research, Newpipe app from a reputable source like F-Droid is another option. That's the benefit of Android as you're not required to sign in to use the device (unlike iOS) and can be untied from Google services if you choose (for the paranoid). With iOS you're required to sign in with Apple ID where everything can be tracked to iCloud (a promise not to track while forced to wear a tracking collar doesn't instill confidence).

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.schabi.newpipe/

 

[DNichter]

For the parents that put in a little more research, Newpipe app from a reputable source like F-Droid is another option. That's the benefit of Android as you're not required to sign in to use the device (unlike iOS) and can be untied from Google services if you choose (for the paranoid). With iOS you're required to sign in with Apple ID where everything can be tracked to iCloud (a promise not to track while forced to wear a tracking collar doesn't instill confidence).

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.schabi.newpipe/

Yes, here's a random app from F-Droid where you can be sure that nothing will be tracked. I trust Apple with my info because there is no incentive for Apple. Privacy is a major stance of their platform and there has been no evidence to show otherwise. Google's products and services, on the other hand, only exist for the sake of advertising. 95% of their revenue comes from advertising, yet you feel perfectly secure giving them all your information.

Totally reasonable to prefer one over the other, but to suggest Apple is doing the same thing is far fetched.

 

[willmtaylor]

Despite agreeing to NEVER do so, Google has been caught MORE THAN ONCE tracking and collecting students’ data through Google Classroom apps.

 

[mi7chy]

Yes, here's a random app from F-Droid where you can be sure that nothing will be tracked.

Repositories like F-Droid are considered ideal since they provide source code for the app which can be vetted and compiled for yourself.

https://github.com/TeamNewPipe/NewPipe

If you're going to debate at least put in more than 0% effort in research otherwise you're just wasting people's time.

 

[DNichter]

Repositories like F-Droid are considered ideal since they provide source code for the app which can be vetted and compiled for yourself.

https://f-droid.org/repo/org.schabi.newpipe_60_src.tar.gz

If you're going to debate at least put in more than 0% effort in research otherwise you're just wasting people's time.

Seems reasonable to expect parents and kids to do. Why expect Google to protect your privacy? Just get the source code and compile yourself.

 

[mi7chy]

Seems reasonable to expect parents and kids to do. Why expect Google to protect your privacy? Just get the source code and compile yourself.

Source code isn't for apologists so the other option is Youtube Kids.

 

[DNichter]

Source code isn't for apologists so the other option is Youtube Kids.

Talk about an apologist.

 

[jamezr]

Source code isn't for apologists so the other option is Youtube Kids.

I have to agree.....YT for kids is great!

 

[5105973]

I cut off any interaction with Google a few years ago for this reason. Search was obviously the last to go, but I just have a hard time supporting a business that only exists for advertising purposes. I don't have any kids, but it is certainly something I want to keep in mind for the future. I think privacy is only going to become a bigger and bigger focus for companies in America. I am not sure how Google will adapt.

They offer granular controls over what they collect, keep and aggregate about you. It’s just a pain to keep checking that your settings didn’t get redone by some app permissions you granted. I have not noticed the effect of their tracking on the advertising I see, but I employ ad blockers. I get almost no junk mail via the post. (I hate saying this but if you want a postal mail nightmare, donate to a charity without filling opt out of solicitation notices). Anyone who takes care of elderly parents who have donated to a charity will know what I mean). Verizon has some problem serving my land line phone number and we’ve been arguing with them for years over it so we simply disconnected our phones from the landline. No more telemarketers from that, ever.

We get a lot of spam calls on our cell numbers now but I keep blocking them. I’m sure Google and all the grocery stores and other stores that offer the savings club cards have a huge dossier on me by now. But in practical terms I have not yet seen any effect on my life, yet. At least nothing I can’t easily ignore, block, or delete.

Facebook was the huge exception. Facebook is Satan. I have never seen an intrusive, nosy, manipulative and creepy stalkerish entity that felt more intrusive, nosy, manipulative and creepy stalkerish than Facebook. And I have posted that opinion even before the recent revelations about them.

I’m not on Twitter enough to get much of a feel for it.

Everyone in my family does use You Tube for how-to and reference videos, just to clarify that. It just is something that we do supervise because there’s so much weird and disturbing things on there. Even I can get my day ruined clicking on the wrong thing. @jamezr has found a formula that works well for his son and I respect that. I deal with girls and some online content can linger and upset a girl’s state of mind maybe more than it can for boys, speaking in generalities and based on what I observe with the boys and girls in our family. There are some things out there on social media that can trigger eating disorders especially with the girls that I am very wary of. I can talk with them until I’m out of breath and they are intelligent and aware and reasonable, but some of the messages are like a poison that gets injected into the bloodstream.

I’m at a complete loss for words to explain it.

 

[Tech198]

So apparently Google is collecting data on children under 13 through YouTube. It honestly doesn't surprise me at all, but it's pretty disgusting that they continue to get away with it. If they do it through YouTube, no doubt in my mind that they are doing it through their Chromebooks as well. With privacy becoming more and more (should have a long time ago) prevalent in today's society, how long will they last when 95% of their business is reliant on their users' data?

https://www.theguardian.com/technol...-data-on-children-say-child-protection-groups

Not that discussing,,,, Kids just have to learn to fake their birth-date better.

 

[willmtaylor]

So apparently Google is collecting data on children under 13 through YouTube. It honestly doesn't surprise me at all, but it's pretty disgusting that they continue to get away with it. If they do it through YouTube, no doubt in my mind that they are doing it through their Chromebooks as well. With privacy becoming more and more (should have a long time ago) prevalent in today's society, how long will they last when 95% of their business is reliant on their users' data?

https://www.theguardian.com/technol...-data-on-children-say-child-protection-groups

How long will they last? You’re already behind the times friend. They’ve thrived with 90+% of revenue coming from advertising for some time now.

 

[TheSkywalker77]

Knowing Google this isn't a surprise. But what even are they using it for?....

 

[762999]

I don't expect to have any privacy online. I think that is a given with today's technology.
I can visit Amazon...then the next page i visit has ads from Amazon. I think all companies build profiles of all the traffic that consumes it resources and apps. I am more wary of the ones that claim they don't to be honest.

+1

Well companies build profiles for you even if you don't create one or visit them. Even if you don't own or use a computer. Your privacy was gone years ago and most people don't know anything about it.

 

[dogslobber]

Despite agreeing to NEVER do so, Google has been caught MORE THAN ONCE tracking and collecting students’ data through Google Classroom apps.

Why would anybody believe anything Google, Facebook, or any other advertising company says? They are purely there to reel consumers in again and again with their lies and deceit. They know they get away with it because human nature is generally trusting but Google is no better than a greasy second hand car salesman. You should assume they are lying to you at all times because they are.