So Your Kid Wants To Be A YouTuber

Many kids who watch YouTube will, at some point, want to explore making content themselves. Two things.

1. This is a great opportunity for them to be creative, which I’m all for.

2. Distributing the content is something else entirely. There is major risk in allowing the content a child makes out into the world

Credit: portishead1, istockphoto.com

Today’s post documents the process I ran to allow my kid to have fun and be creative making content while being safe. Both things are possible! 

3 Part Process

1. Branding

2. Content Creation

3. Distribution

Branding 

Define the Channel

The channel will need a 

• Name 

• Tagline

1. Have your kid explain their vision for the channel. Ask them “what sort of content will it house?” “what was the inspiration?” while you take notes. Or better yet, have them write out their ideas. 

2. Read through the output together and help brainstorm a channel name and a tagline based on what they’ve shared.

3. From your adult YouTube Account, check to see if the name is taken or what’s available.

4. Set up the channel under your account (more on why below).

Design the Channel

Once the channel has a name and tagline, your kid can create a visual identity. This means designing 

• Logo 

• Color(s) 

• Font(s)

 I recommend doing this in Canva. Once they make a logo, help them upload it to the channel and fill out the description with the tagline.  

Safety

When I ran this process, my son and I talked about whether he would show his face or any other identifiable marks in his videos. We ultimately decided that since we would not be making these videos public anytime soon but might someday, it was ok to show his face but that we would avoid showing other markers like wearing a t shirt with his school’s logo. Decide 

• How much information are you comfortable having them share?

• Will this content ever be public?

Content Creation

Scripting & Planning 

This is actually a great opportunity to have them learn about or even develop their own creative process. Here are the steps my son followed

1. Make an outline, then a script for the first video. 

2. Read the script aloud to get a sense of how long the video might be. Revise as necessary to get to a certain length

3. Keep a notebook (can be a running word doc or note) of ideas for future videos

4. Decide whether to memorize the script, freestyle or read from a teleprompter app. (We ended up using this free teleprompter app)

Shooting & Editing

Next, we talked through what other apps or technology in addition toYouTube and Canva, he would need to make his video. We chose

• Family iPad to record

• Teleprompter app to read script while while recording

• Capcut software to edit

• Google drive folder to store video until I am ready to review & upload 

Distribution & More Safety

I do not want my child’s likeness out there publicly. YouTube also does not allow anyone under 13 to upload content which reinforced my decision. He will not have access to my password and the channel will remain under my account until he turns 13. At that time we will discuss our options.

The other reason he will not have my password is so he’s not even tempted to watch content from my adult— and therefore unrestricted— account.

To Recap

1. I am the owner of the channel in order to manage distribution

2. He is the creator, and his videos can stay in his google drive folder until I review them and potentially upload them to the YouTube channel

3. As distribution manager, I set all Videos to private with comments disabled

I will not share the password and under no circumstances is any content to be made visible by anyone other than me. 

Consequences

I will suspend access or delete the account if I find him:

• Making inappropriate content

• Attempting to distribute content without my permission

• Watching YouTube from my account 

• Commenting inappropriately on the content of others

Paid subscribers read on for talking points and house rules i.e. how to actually present this to your kid.

Script/Talking Points

• I love that you want to explore being a creator!

• We’re going to work on this together.

• You are going to be the Creator and I am going to be the Distribution Manager. 

• This means I make the decisions about what gets posted where and who can see it.

• To do this, you can design and create a YouTube Channel but it will be part of my account.

• Here are the rules:

House Rules For Creators Under 13

Privacy 

There are creeps and mean people out there. You are a minor. Therefore your content will not be public and comments will be disabled. You will not share your name, your location nor your age in any content or in the channel description.

Appropriate Content 

YouTube has Content Guidelines which you must read before we begin (here). As your parent, I have additional Content Guidelines that you must adhere to. They are:

• No swearing

• No making fun of other; no putting down others, no jokes or pranks at the expense of others

• Keep it PG

Appropriate Online Behavior

You will never post unkind comments from your account. You will not post any comments from my account. Whatever you are thinking, if you wouldn’t say to me or in front of me, don’t do it.

Sneaking

You have your own Supervised Account to watch content. Do not use my account without my knowledge to upload, comment or watch.

Consequences

If you do one of these things, I will stop uploading content for you. If it's really bad or you do it repeatedly I will delete the channel entirely.