Just recently, Disney, Nestlé and McDonald’s pulled out their ads from video sharing platform, YouTube.
The Google-owned video website is involved in an issue surrounding one of its content creators named Matt Watson. The YouTube blogger posted on Reddit how comments were being used to facilitate a “soft-core pedophilia ring.”
“We got YouTube to finally acknowledge a serious flaw in its design, a flaw that was facilitating pedophiles ability to network and trade information. We got them,” says Watson.
Some ads that ran on the video were placed by Disney and Nestlé, which prompted them to pull out. McDonald’s and Epic Games are also said to have pulled their ads.
SuperAwesome powers
SuperAwesome promotes responsibility on all aspects of YouTube video sharing. It is a tech company that provides safe digital experiences for hundreds of kids companies.
The company was founded in 2013 by a track record team with backgrounds in digital media, technology and kids’ media. Notable clients include Disney, Mattel, Hasbro, and Cartoon Network.
CEO Dylan Collins believes that the problem is not simply an issue of moderation. He believes it is irresponsibility on behalf of video platforms to implement the correct technology in order to protect kids online.
“It’s very easy to come out and beat up Facebook and Google for some of this stuff, but the reality is that there’s no ecosystem there for developers who are creating content or building services specifically for kids,” says Collins..
Everyday, 170,000 children go online for the first time, which is why Collins makes it his goal to make sure kids are safe online.
“Silicon Valley has been ignoring kids safety online for decades now, it’s time they make a change.” – Dylan Collins
Online problem
YouTube has become the new television for children. Kids shifted from TV sets to smartphones and tablets, and computers since it became easier to afford.
The exposure to a vast number of content in the online world has led to their attention becoming massively fragmented.
YouTube has millions of channels with different niches and content, which children become exposed to.It has led to children picking up even the most inappropriate content on YouTube.
Kids also make a large part of the internet, which is why data privacy laws and parameters had to be implemented.
Collins believes that more investment is needed to help protect children’s privacy and activities. His focus is to design a platform where younger video creators are given the functionality and tools for safe-engagement and monetization that they deserve.
Kidtech protects
SuperAwesome has a huge clientele of kiddie companies. Its Kidtech is being used by clients such as Activision, Hasbro, Mattel, Cartoon Network, Spin Master, Nintendo, Bandai, WB, and Shopkins maker Moose Toys among hundreds of others.
In less than five years, Kidtech managed to fill in the urgent need for kid-friendly technology, including kid-safe advertising, social engagement tools, authentication and parental controls. Its tools block potentially harmful content like once about hate, conspiracies, violence, and cyber crime.
Kidtech is valued at more than $100 million, after making a $60 million revenue in 2018. The company has also raised $13 million in funding.
“It’s never been more important to have infrastructure which can enable safe, anonymous digital engagement for children online,” Collins said.
The company currently has 120 employees catering to more than 500 million unique users each month.
