Analyse and evaluate a website designed for children or young adults

Topic: Digital materials/resources and emerging technologies

YouTube has over one billion users
and everyday people watch hundreds of millions of hours (YouTube , 2015). This phenomenon has captured the attention of young children across the world but unfortunately not all YouTube videos are appropriate for young viewers even with parental restrictions in place, no filter is ever 100% accurate. Kideos (KAPP, LLC, 2015) is a free safe place that children can find preapproved age appropriate YouTube videos to watch online. Designed for children between the ages of two and ten, parents are able to set time limits and specify age ranges of their children in order to filter content. Children are able to browse channels easily with a varied amount available for both older and younger children.

What did I learn?

It is important to stay up to date with digital trends and find alternatives for parents and children that offer a common ground. It is about educating clients on what is available to create a safer online environment that is targeted to meet their needs. Most children today are able to operate new systems for information seeking at an early age; the importance of understanding and embracing new technologies will assist librarians as we move toward the future (Rhodes, 2015).

How was the activity relevant to your professional practice as a librarian for children or young adults?

I am often asked about child friendly websites, this activity has given me the opportunity to explore a website that provides a safe environment for children to watch videos without inappropriate content; I can pass this knowledge onto clients. By staying well informed on emerging technologies librarians are able to provide services and develop connections between the library and its users.

Were any gaps in your knowledge revealed? How might you fill those gaps?

Engaging in various social media has shown to benefit children by enhancing communication, social connection and technical skills however because of their limited capacity for self regulation it is important to impose time limits and safety filters (Schurgin O'Keeffe & Clarke-Pearson, 2011). There were gaps in understanding the importance of being better educated about new technologies that young people are using and adopting a sense of fun when approaching new technologies (Rhodes, 2015).

References

Rhodes, A. (2015). INF330 Library Services for Children and Youth.  https://interact2.csu.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/execute/displayLearningUnit?course_id=_6555_1&content_id=_611378_  1

            Schurgin O'Keeffe, G., & Clarke-Pearson, K. (2011). The Impact of Social Media on    Children, Adolescents, and Families. Pediatrics , 127 (4), 800.

YouTube . (2015). Statistics. Retrieved 01 16, 2016 from YouTube:     https://www.youtube.com/yt/press/statistics.html

KAPP, LLC. (2015). Kideos videos for kids. Retrieved 01 16, 2016 from Kideos:           http://www.kideos.com/#/