Over the last few weeks, I have heard about Shorts. One of the conversations was very poignant:

“I got lost over Christmas.”

“Lost where?”

“On my phone - It just dragged me in. It was like some force was pulling me to keep watching.”

“What were you watching? What kept you hooked?”

“Shorts. Do you know Shorts? They are so addictive.”

These conversations sent me searching. I didn’t have the latest update on YouTube because I rarely use YouTube on my phone. After searching and a quick YouTube update, I found Shorts and it became immediately evident that parents and educators need to know about YouTube Shorts. 

What are Shorts, and why should you be aware?

Shorts are video clips in the style of TikTok or Instagram Reels that are only 60 seconds long or even shorter. They were rolled out last summer. The idea is simple; scroll down and consume. 

These videos are fun and easy to make with filters, text function, and music. Oh, and might I mention, shorts seem to be designed to keep viewers scrolling forever. 

I am not a fan of this new YouTube function. I would like to bring up some other issues that I find any parent or educator should be aware of:

Recommended privacy settings

YouTube Shorts have recommended privacy settings, and for each video, you need to choose. Children and young adults often do not fully grasp this and might not take the time to decide. The choices a creator can make are public, unlisted, or private. Most choose public with the idea that they might go viral. 

Desire to go viral

The aim is to go viral for many of those posting Shorts. The idea of becoming famous, or “YouTube famous” might spur someone young to make and post videos that they will later regret. It could be something that could get them into trouble, a clip in which they are doing or saying risky things, or sharing personal information with strangers to connect with "fans." This risk concerns youth and adults alike, but this causes a particular threat and young people need adult guidance on this.

Addictive component

As mentioned, Shorts are made to be addictive. The function is designed that way and if a child or youth who has struggled with online escapism starts scrolling Shorts, they will have a hard time shutting it off. 

YouTube audio content made available

In a Short, any audio from any public YouTube video can be used. This means that any audio from children on Youtube can be used by anyone else in a Short. This could even happen using children's voices from school videos. A secondary danger is that the original video will be referenced, inviting strangers to engage with the child. When it comes to protecting children online, this is alarming.

Inappropriate content

The length of the videos is shorter, which means it is more challenging to find and take down videos which are inappropriate or harmful. They may be tagged as something different to attract children. Users also cannot control the types of videos that appear, so the risks of being exposed to something inappropriate or harmful are high.

Bullying risk

If a student has a YouTube channel and someone at school wants to make fun of them, they have easy access to the audio and can create their own content using the voice of a fellow student. 

Where can you watch Shorts?

Shorts is a function on smartphones. It is said to not be available on computers or iPads. This is only partially true. If you type in #shorts in the search bar, the Shorts will appear. The only positive is they are not as addictive in this form of viewing. 

Can I disable Shorts from my phone or my child's phone?

Not easily, but you can. The easiest way is to install an older version of YouTube. Shorts are only available on the newest update. If you have an Android phone, you have another option. You can use YouTube Vanced. Here you can not only block ads, but also choose to disable Shorts. On an iPhone, blocking Shorts is trickier. You can find other alternatives such as uYou+, RebornAgain, YouTubed, Cercube Max, or Cercube+, but I have not tried them, so I have no idea how effective they are.  

What does this mean for schools and parents?

As this is a new function, I encourage you to monitor it as it develops and be aware that your child/students might be watching Shorts.

• Take some time to explore Shorts. Chances are your students or children will already be using Shorts, so you need to understand the function and its addictive components. 

• If you have children under 12, protect them from this by checking their devices and blocking Shorts. Younger children should not have access. 

• For teens, this means more conversations at school and home. It is essential to listen to teens' perspectives, engage with them about what they like, and give them your viewpoint. While doing this, you can bring in how exaggerated, often fake, and curated these videos are. 

• Use screen time resources and track your child's screen time; track your own as well while you are at it.

The teens I talked with had been dragged in, as if a hand was pulling them, tugging at their sleeve towards a large bowl of candy, they just couldn’t resist. I get it. I get dragged in too, but when I do, I can correct my own behavior rapidly.  

Good luck with your conversations. If there is something you would like us to write about, reach out to us and let us know. 

–Allison Ochs, social pedagogue/worker, author, mother of three, wife

Photo by Hello I'm Nik on Unsplash

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