AIGenerated Kids Videos Are Flooding YouTube—What Parents Should Know Wendy WisnerSeptember 1, 2025 at 6:10 PM 1 Fact checked by Sarah Scott PARENTS/ GETTY IMAGES Key Takeaways AIgenerated videos for kids are popping up everywhere, and many include confusing or inaccurate information.
- - AI-Generated Kids Videos Are Flooding YouTube—What Parents Should Know
Wendy WisnerSeptember 1, 2025 at 6:10 PM
1
Fact checked by Sarah Scott
PARENTS/ GETTY IMAGES
Key Takeaways -
AI-generated videos for kids are popping up everywhere, and many include confusing or inaccurate information.
These videos can look fun and harmless but may teach your child things that aren't true or even safe.
You can help protect your child by using parental controls, co-watching, and teaching them how to tell what's real and what's AI.
Comedian and dad Alex Pearlman recently shared on his socials what happened one afternoon when he attempted to hang out with his toddler and watch YouTube Kids. He noticed that one of the suggested videos was based on a book he reads to his kid all the time…only it was totally AI generated.
The pages of the book had come to life, using AI, and not with the book publisher's permission. Not only that, but it was one of those books for toddlers that shows pictures of various items (cups, balls, cups, bananas, etc.) with the word for them. But in this case, the AI voices were pronouncing the words incorrectly. So, yeah, an educational book was being used to miseducate a child. Not great, huh?
"If you're a parent now, you are stuck, because you need to make sure you know and understand where the information that is being put into your toddler's head is coming from," Pearlman says.
AI generated content seems to be everywhere these days—and yes, it's very likely in some of the videos your baby or toddler is watching. "AI-generated videos aimed at kids are becoming increasingly common, especially on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, where content is often auto-generated to grab attention or maximize views," says Titania Jordan, chief parenting officer and CMO at Bark Technologies and co-author of Parenting in a Tech World.
If the idea of your child watching AI generated videos sounds worrying to you as a parent, we get it. That's why we caught up with three parenting and tech experts to give us the down-low on AI videos for kids, including how to spot them, why they can be problematic, and what to do about protecting your kids from possible risks.
What to Know About AI Generated Videos for Kids
Although it's not possible to say exactly how common AI videos for kids are, it's definitely accurate to say they are all over the place, and more are being added each day. That's because AI videos are easy to produce, and most of the platforms where kids watch them aren't able to fully regulate their proliferation.
"AI-generated content aimed at kids is becoming more common every day because the tools are cheap, accessible, and easy to use," says Scott Kollins, PhD, psychologist and chief medical officer at family online safety company Aura. "The result is a flood of quick-to-produce videos designed to get clicks and ad revenue."
So, how exactly can you tell if something your kid watches was produced by AI?
AI content for kids often resembles your child's favorite TV show, or a familiar nursery rhyme, explains Natalie Bidnick Andreas, EdD, an assistant professor of communication studies at the University of Texas at Austin who teaches and researches AI, digital communication, and media literacy. "But if you watch closely, you may notice robotic-sounding narration, lip-syncing that is slightly off, or animations that do not follow natural movement," she describes.
Another sign it might be AI? "Many of these channels publish new compilations daily, which is another sign of automation," says Dr. Andreas.
Overall, AI videos tend to depict impossible circumstances. They might show you a bed made of marbles or clouds, or famous people in situations they'd never agree to, like a politician hanging out with their opponent, Jordan explains. "The more absurd a video is, the more likely it's fake," she says. "Sometimes, the absurdity is the point: You're definitely going to stop your scroll if you come across a golden retriever making an omelet in a French restaurant."
Finally, one tell-tale sign that something is AI generated is that hands and eyes will look off. "These are the hardest things to realistically duplicate, and they can easily start to look very weird or absurd," Jordan says.
Risks of AI Videos for Kids
AI poses several real risks to kids. Here are some top concerns shared by experts.
Inappropriate content
AI videos that haven't been edited or monitored can easily veer into inappropriate content, including content that is violent or sexual, says Dr. Kollins. Not only that, but many platforms like YouTube don't have good track records in terms of moderating content, he says.
"Not long ago, they were under fire for hosting countless videos that looked like harmless Peppa Pig cartoons but actually included disturbing scenes, like Peppa having her teeth pulled out by a menacing dentist," Dr. Kollins notes.
Misinformation
Many kid videos are meant to be educational, but when AI is involved, there's often no fact-checking, and kids may be flooded with misinformation. "AI 'hallucinates,' meaning it can confidently present false information as fact," says Dr. Kollins.
If you and your child are used to trusting the information contained in a kid-centric video, you might easily be deceived and believe the information you see is factually accurate.
Quality
The quality of the videos your child watches is important, because they teach things like the art of storytelling, vocabulary building, and concepts like kindness and cooperation. The videos your child watches also creates a mood and pace for your child to absorb.
"Children need thoughtful pacing, clear language, and meaningful educational value, which many AI-generated videos lack," Dr. Andreas says.
Risk to parents and grandparents
AI generated videos aren't just problematic for kids.
Our kids' grandparents are particularly vulnerable to AI content. "Older adults can be more vulnerable to AI-driven scams or misinformation, especially if they aren't as tech-savvy," says Jordan. "Beyond scams, there's also the risk of confusing or misleading content when it comes to political figures, news events, or other contemporary issues."
But it's not just older parents or seniors who are vulnerable. Any adult can be tricked into believing misinformation found online, particularly in the form of self-help and health-related content. "AI-generated health advice videos or 'miracle cures' might look professional but offer dangerously incorrect information," Jordan notes.
What Parents Can Do
The phenomenon of AI generated videos for kids is worrisome, for sure. But you aren't powerless as a parent. Our experts shared tips for navigating this new world we find ourselves in.
Teach your kids to identify AI content
Start by having a candid chat with your child about AI videos, including why they are problematic. Jordan recommends showing your child an example of an AI video and seeing if they can spot what makes it a fake. "Kids are usually surprisingly adept at identifying these types of videos," she says.
Use settings and parental controls
Use whatever child-safety settings are available to you. For example, when it comes to YouTube, you can use YouTube kids or supervised YouTube accounts, Dr. Andreas recommends. Other helpful options include turning off autoplay, and limiting your child's viewing to approved YouTube channels that you know don't use AI content.
"It is also worth remembering that abstaining from YouTube altogether is an option, especially for younger children, in favor of curated streaming services or downloaded content you trust," Dr. Andreas mentions.
Teach your kids to fact-check
It's vital that you teach your child to always fact-check any info they find on the internet. This is an important skill—not just for AI videos—but for internet content in general. "For example, if your child sees an elaborate post claiming that their favorite baseball team just added a 10-year-old as a starting pitcher, tell them to Google it to see if any reputable news sources confirm it," Jordan recommends.
When your child gets in the habit of confirming information they encounter online, they develop strong media literacy skills.
Build healthy screen habits
Healthy screen time habits are essential. This may include co-watching YouTube with your child and teaching them how to "sniff out" AI generated content as you watch, Dr. Andreas recommends. Limiting screen time and spending as much time as possible free playing at home and outside is also vital.
Have a family password
Having a family password is a smart way to protect against fraud. How does this work, exactly? Let's say you or a family member receives a suspicious call. They can ask the caller for this secret password before proceeding, Dr. Andreas suggests. This is especially helpful for grandparents, who are vulnerable to phone scams and other types of fraud, where someone may impersonate close family members.
The Bottom Line
Above all, as scary and disorienting the idea of AI generated videos for kids is, you can use it as a learning opportunity and a time to engage in important conversations with your kids.
It's all about teaching your kids digital literary skills, encouraging them to be skeptical about what they see online—and making sure they know they can come to you if anything feels off to them about content they see online, says Dr. Kollins.
"The key is creating a safe, judgment-free space for those conversations," he concludes. "This is new territory for everyone, but by normalizing those talks, you'll help your family navigate it together."
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