Ninety percent of the food kids see on YouTube is unhealthy. According to a Pediatrics study, many “kidfluencer” YouTube channels popular among kids—featuring toy reviews, unboxing presents, and video games—are “targeting them with thinly veiled ads” for sugary drinks and junk food. Videos were found to be “awash” in endorsements and product placements for brands like McDonald’s, Carl’s Jr., Hershey’s, Chuck E. Cheese, and Taco Bell. Ninety percent of the food in videos were “unhealthy items” like milkshakes, French fries, soft drinks, and cheeseburgers “emblazoned” with fast food logos. YPulse’s Growing Up YouTube research found that 72% of Millennial parents say their kids watch YouTube daily. (NYTimes, CNN)
