New Delhi, February 24 – As rumoured, Google on Monday announced YouTube Kids, an Android and iOS app that would allow children to access the videos hosting service in a safe and fun way.
“Today, we’re introducing the YouTube Kids app, the first Google product built from the ground up with little ones in mind. The app makes it safer and easier for children to find videos on topics they want to explore, and is available for free on Google Play and the App Store in the US,” said Shimrit Ben-Yair, Google executive looking after the YouTube Kids app.
The app has specific features that make it the right tool for kids. With this app children get access to YouTube videos but only those that have been deemed suitable for them. Google said that specifically, there are three key features of the YouTube Kids app:
Bright and playful design:
“With larger images, bold icons and more, it’s fast and simple for little thumbs to navigate. And we’ve built in voice search so that even if your child can’t spell or type, they can still find videos of things they’re curious about,” said Ben-Yair.
However, given the fact that the way kids talk is different compared to the way adults do, it is not clear how well the voice recognition will work in the app.
Family-focused content:
Google said that the new app provides access to “family-focussed” content. “Now, parents can rest a little easier knowing that videos in the YouTube Kids app are narrowed down to content appropriate for kids,” said Ben-Yair.
Google added that it has tied up with a lot of content producers, who are already on YouTube, so that kids will have always have access to fresh and relevant content.
Parental controls:
The YouTube Kids comes with parental controls. Parents will be able to set sessions with limited timing within the app before handing over a tablet to their kids. They will also be able to turn off search functionality or background audio, if they require.
“This is the first step toward reimagining YouTube for families, but with your help, the app will continue to get better over time,” said Ben-Yair. For now there is no word when the app will be available to Android and iOS users outside the US.
-INDIA TODAY
