Google will launch its newest version of YouTube, specially designed for kids, called YouTube Kids on Monday. The free app can be downloaded from Google Play.
Google is targeting huge business from kids, as the giant is feeling kids are next big opportunity for Internet companies. Now the kids need not to use fake accounts for accessing the content. YouTube kids will carry only appropriate and legible data only.
Google reportedly not commented on their choice of allowing ads for revenue. The company is discussing raising revenue from ads in the application, the Wall Street Journal reported.
“The big motivator inside the company is everyone is having kids, so there’s a push to change our products to be fun and safe for children,” Pavni Diwanji, vice president for engineering at Google, told USA Today in December. Google products have been made with adults in mind and need to be redesigned for kids, she added.
Google’s move is, however, likely to come under scrutiny from both parents and regulators as the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) in the U.S. has strict rules on the mining of a child’s personal information. Internet companies have to get the parent’s verifiable consent before collecting, using or disclosing personal information from a child, according to COPPA rules.
The said app can study the behavior of children with their keywords, the app will give parents control over how much time the child can spend on it, according to sources. Parents will also have the ability to turn off search and sound. Channels and playlists will be organized into four categories: Shows, Music, Learning and Explore.
It is certainly pro-family and pro-kid move by the Google for educating the children upto required level. We have to see how the app is going to be on board from Monday.
-Kannamsai
