UPDATE: The brand new YouTube for Kids app is now available to download for iOS and Android.
Google has confirmed the new YouTube for Kids app is now available, touting it as the “the first Google product built from the ground up with little ones in mind”.
It is available now for iOS and Android devices and offers a curated selection of videos appropriate for YouTube’s youngest users.
Google offers the app with a fresh, “bright and playful design” that is bound to appeal to the younger generations.
It’s broken up into four sections – shows, music, learning and explore.
There are a number of parental controls built in, including a viewing timer, sound options for cutting off music or sound effects, the option to disable search and other programming options.
Original Story: YouTube is planning to launch an Android app for children on Monday, it’s been revealed.
The app, which is to be called YouTube Kids, will offer original TV content for younger viewers. It will also contain access to YouTube channels aimed specifically at kids.
YouTube Kids will also enable parents to set a timer on how much of its TV content a child can watch, and there’s a safe search feature that will block off any attempts – accidental or otherwise – to access something unsuitable through it.
USA Today appears to have been one of the first publications to break this news, but several other sources have since confirmed it independently. TechCrunch, for instance, reports that there’ll be high profile content from established names such as Jim Henson TV, DreamWorks, and National Geographic.
The stand-alone app will be for Android only, and will only be launching in the US initially.
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As for the app’s design, it sports a chunky, suitably kid-friendly design with hand-drawn icons and large tiles representing the video content.
Google’s plans for a child-friendly YouTube have been known for several months now, with the search giant acutely aware of the issues relating to the unrestricted access to the internet many kids seem to have.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
