Children on the Internet: How protect against problematic thumbnails?

Children on the Internet: How protect against problematic thumbnails?

The effective influence of children by thumbnails on YouTube

The use of video platforms such as YouTube is a potential danger for children, since they can be confronted with content that is not suitable for their age group. A study has now shown that the preview images, also called thumbnails, can influence children to click on the video. But how can parents and beneficiaries better protect their children?

Click bait as a challenge for children

The problem is that the thumbnails are often luridly designed to attract attention. This can lead to children seeing content that is disturbing, creepy or stereotype. A study from the USA has shown that many of these thumbnails attract strong attention and are problematic. Gender stereotypes often appear, which represent the image of men and women distorted.

The researchers found that the longer they dealt with the recommended videos, the more problematic thumbnails appeared. This effect could have an impact on how children think and what media content they consume.

The challenge for children and their mental health

It is worrying that children are exposed to such a variety of problematic content by the thumbnails on video platforms. Research shows that this can have negative effects on your thinking and behavior. It is important that parents and educators inform their children about how thumbnails work and how they can affect their media consumption.

measures to protect children

It is difficult to proceed directly against the problematic thumbnails, since they often do not violate laws or guidelines. Nevertheless, it is important that parents and educators educate children about media literacy and raise awareness of the dangers. Through open conversations and a trusting relationship, children can better understand what content they should consume and how they can protect themselves from negative influences.

- Nag