YouTube's growth in use among children 0–5 during COVID19: The Occidental European case

• Published in: Technology in society Vol. 66; p. 101648
• Main Authors: Lozano-Blasco, Raquel, Quilez-Robres, Alberto, Delgado-Bujedo, Diego, Latorre-Martínez, Mª Pilar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2021; Elsevier Science Ltd; The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd
• Subjects: Channels; Child development; Children; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Cultural change; Data science applications in education; Disease control; Early years education; Education; Entertainment; Human-computer interface; Issues and Opinions; Media in education; Pandemics; Public policy; Social media; Social networks; Software; Early years education; Data science applications in education; Human-computer interface; Media in education
• ISSN: 0160-791X; 1879-3274; 0160-791X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101648

YouTube has become an educational and entertainment tool among Western European families, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study monitored the main channels for children aged 0–5 years by using the social media analysis (SNA) methodology from March 24, 2020 to August 24, 2020. The software used has been FanpageKarma, which allows the collection and interpretation of data. The results indicate not only a growth in the use of such channels during confinement, but also how their expansion is related to the evolution of the COVID-19, reflecting, in turn, the consequences of the government policies adopted. Social distancing generated a greater consumption of recreational content, but not a greater growth in educational content regardless of the country or culture. •Growth in the use of Youtube channels by children (0–5 years) during the Covid-19.•The increase is related to government containment measures.•There are no differences in the typology of videos consumed in European countries.•Confinement has not led to the consumption of educational videos.