5 Big Questions About YouTube

No. Kids must be at least 13 to have their own channel.

“If you want a channel, it will have to be one you share with a parent,” says doctor and media expert Nusheen Ameenuddin.

She also suggests having a trusted adult help run the channel, to protect your privacy and keep you safe.

“The internet is a big place, and any stranger can see your video,” she says. “Even little details like a school shirt or family photos can give away a lot of information.”

No. Kids must be at least 13 to have their own channel.

“If you want a channel, it will have to be one you share with a parent,” says doctor and media expert Nusheen Ameenuddin.

She also suggests having a trusted adult run the channel. This will help protect your privacy. It will also keep you safe.

“The internet is a big place. Any stranger can see your video,” she says. “Even little details like a school shirt or family photos can give away a lot of information.”

More than 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute. That’s a lot of content! So what should you post? Experts suggest focusing on topics you’re passionate about. Love creating animations or playing Roblox? Post videos about that.

“YouTube can be a great way to show off talent, connect with other kids, or talk about things that matter to you,” Ameenuddin says.

Still, with nearly 40 million channels to compete with, it can be hard to stand out. To get people to “like and subscribe,” YouTubers must constantly come up with unique content.

That’s what Ryan Kaji, the 9-year-old star of Ryan’s World, does. In 2015, his parents began posting videos of Ryan simply opening up toy packages. Now his videos include challenges, science experiments, and more.

More than 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute. That’s a lot of content! So what should you post? Experts suggest focusing on your passions. Love creating animations or playing Roblox? Post videos about that.

“YouTube can be a great way to show off talent, connect with other kids, or talk about things that matter to you,” Ameenuddin says.

Still, there are nearly 40 million channels to compete with. It can be hard to stand out. YouTubers must constantly come up with unique content to get people to “like and subscribe.”

That’s what Ryan Kaji does. He’s the 9-year-old star of Ryan’s World. In 2015, his parents began posting videos of Ryan opening up toy packages. Now his videos include challenges and science experiments.

YouTube might seem like pure fun, but running a channel can be hard work. The most successful YouTubers treat it like a job. They post a video nearly every day to keep their followers coming back.

Most kid YouTubers need their parents’ help with this. They often write scripts and rehearse together. Some set up extra cameras and lighting equipment. After filming, they spend hours editing. It takes so many hours of hard work that Ryan’s family now has a team of 30 people to help out!

So the hobby you love could become more of a chore. Ameenuddin also points out that what you see on-screen isn’t always real.

“What you see likely represents a tiny portion of someone’s life,” she says. “They’re regular kids like you who have to do homework and chores.”

YouTube might seem like pure fun. But running a channel can be hard work. The most successful YouTubers treat it like a job. They post daily videos  to keep their followers coming back.

Most kid YouTubers need their parents’ help with this. They often write scripts and rehearse together. Some set up extra cameras and lighting equipment. After filming, they spend hours editing. It takes so many hours of hard work that Ryan’s family now has a team of 30 people to help out!

So the hobby you love could become more of a chore. Ameenuddin also points out that what you see on-screen isn’t always real.

“What you see likely represents a tiny portion of someone’s life,” she says. “They’re regular kids like you who have to do homework and chores.”