Gen Alpha Is Ditching Kids' TV for Twitch and YouTube—Should Parents Be Worried?

Yahoo

3 hours ago

Ahead, learn more about Gen Alpha's media habits and how to create healthy boundaries around screen time and 'unfiltered' viewing.
Fact checked by Sarah Scott
Key Points
Kids today watch more YouTube and Twitch than traditional TV, giving them control over what they see and when they see it.
Live streams and other unfiltered media can expose kids to risky or inappropriate content, so adult guidance is key.
Talking openly and watching with your child helps build trust and teaches safe digital habits.
In past generations, kids turned on the TV to watch PBS, Saturday morning cartoons, the Disney Channel, or Nickelodeon. Today, most of what kids watch isn't a scripted sitcom, preschool learning program, or goofy cartoon—it's user-generated content on platforms like Twitch and YouTube.
Generation Alpha, or children born between 2010 and 2024, is a digital-first generation. They've never lived in a world without the internet, social media, YouTube, or the iPhone—and this is clearly reflected in their viewing preferences. Instead of tuning into a tween-centric TV show on Nickelodeon, they're watching someone play a video game on Twitch or watching their peers open packages (also known as an 'unboxing') on YouTube.
Media habits have always evolved across generations, but algorithm-driven feeds and live streaming present a whole new set of challenges and questions for parents, including limited parental controls, unpredictable content quality, and potential behavioral impacts.
'Traditional television was scheduled, passive, and standardized. It couldn't compete with the on-demand, personalized, and interactive nature of platforms like YouTube and later TikTok and Twitch,' says clinical psychologist Michael Wetter, PsyD, ABPP, FAACP. 'Children now grow up in an environment where they don't wait for a show to air—they expect content to be instantly available, tailored to their interests, and socially integrated. They don't just watch content—they remix it, comment on it, and share it with peers. It's not just entertainment; it's how they express identity, participate in culture, and feel seen."
Generation Alpha's Media Habits, Explained
Millennial and Gen Z kids grew up spoiled by great TV programming, including quality learning-focused shows like Nick Jr.'s Dora the Explorer and Disney Channel's fun, relatable tween sitcoms like Hannah Montana and That's So Raven. While shows like these still exist (Dora even got a modern reboot) Gen Alpha has shifted their viewing habits almost entirely online. Popular shows like CoComelon, Blippi, and Ms. Rachel got their start on YouTube, and need we remind you of the massive success of Pinkfong's 'Baby Shark' song? Creators like twins Vlad and Niki became popular on the platform with their user-generated preschool show, which has since become available on streaming services like Prime Video.
According to Precise TV, 87% of kids ages 2-5 prefer to watch YouTube over other services. Common Sense Media also reports that children are watching fewer traditional TV shows but gaming more, with 40% of 2-year-olds already owning a tablet.
"Unlike traditional TV, digital platforms let them choose the content, interact with it, and even become creators themselves. That level of control and customization is something cable could never compete with."
Titania Jordan
The appeal is clear: most kids watch YouTube on a phone or tablet, which parents often hand over to keep them occupied in restaurants, in waiting rooms, or during car rides. (That's where the term 'iPad kid' comes from.) 'YouTube and other phone-based apps are available anywhere,' says Devorah Heitner, PhD, author of the book Growing Up in Public: Coming of Age in a Digital World. 'It's free...adding to the appeal for busy, on-the-go families.'
And Gen Alpha can watch whatever they want, whenever they want it, which anyone who waited by the TV hoping to catch a specific episode of their favorite show back in the '80s or '90s can tell you is a luxury. 'Unlike traditional TV, digital platforms let them choose the content, interact with it, and even become creators themselves,' adds Titania Jordan, chief parenting officer of Bark Technologies, a company that helps keep kids safer online. 'That level of control and customization is something cable could never compete with.'
What to Know About Twitch
While younger kids gravitate toward YouTube, older kids are more likely to be on Twitch. The streaming platform has long been popular with teenagers—more than 40% of its users are between the ages of 16 and 24, the majority of them male. Twitch began as an online gaming platform, but has since grown to include more first-person 'day in the life' content. Popular streamers like Kai Cenat and Clix have attracted tons of new viewers to the platform, and Twitch has become a modern way for teens to create community and find new friends.
Scott H. Kollins, PhD, clinical psychologist and chief medical officer of Aura, points out that streaming isn't just a way for kids to share their hobbies. 'For some, it's about chasing a bigger dream. Streaming is now seen as a real career path,' he shares. 'Just like some kids dream of being pro athletes, others hope to become big-time streamers or esports stars. Even if only a few make it that far, the idea that it's possible is really exciting.'
But because Twitch streams are live and not edited or censored like traditional TV programming, there are more risks involved regarding what young viewers may see onscreen. 'Children can be exposed to sudden shifts in tone or content that range from mildly inappropriate to deeply disturbing—often without warning,' explains Dr. Wetter. 'A streamer might begin with lighthearted gaming and suddenly veer into profanity, personal rants, or emotionally volatile behavior.' Dr. Wetter also flags Twitch's chat feature, which can expose children to 'toxic interactions, harassment, even grooming behavior.'
Twitch has also come under fire for being an easy place for predators to interact with young users; in 2023, Bloomberg News analyzed over 1,000 Twitch Clips—or short, snackable videos similar to YouTube Shorts and TikTok—to find that 'at least 83 of the short videos contain sexualized content involving children.' And because kids often share details casually, they may accidentally reveal where they live or go to school without realizing the safety implications.
Twitch doesn't allow children under 13 to create an account on the platform, but kids determined to get online can find workarounds.
Even older tweens and teens can separate authenticity and performance, says Dr. Wetter. Children are always watching people around them and modeling their behavior as such, and they may be taking cues from streamers without recognizing that much of what they're watching is performance. 'Because livestream platforms prioritize engagement, streamers may act out in exaggerated, often reckless ways to hold attention or elicit donations,' says Dr. Wetter.
What to Know About YouTube
YouTube, built on an algorithm designed to show viewers more content they may enjoy and thus keep them on the platform longer, has long been criticized for exposing kids to questionable content, ads, and clickbait. In 2015, the platform launched YouTube Kids as a safer, more curated option, though its safety parameters haven't always been the most foolproof. Some creators have even used popular kids' characters like Elsa or Spider-Man to slip through the platform with inappropriate content, also known as 'Elsagate.'
While YouTube Kids can feel like a safer choice, experts suggest still paying attention to what your kid is watching. 'YouTube Kids offers a more curated environment, but it's far from foolproof,' says Jordan. 'Content can still slip through, and recommendation algorithms often favor engagement over appropriateness.' When it comes to YouTube and YouTube Kids, 'nothing replaces active supervision and conversation,' she says. Parents should be actively involved in what their kids are clicking on and consuming; for every one Ms. Rachel, there are 10 videos that could be filled with inappropriate content for young viewers. 'Filters can help, but YouTube is the wild west in terms of content,' says Heitner. 'Kids can stumble on very harmful violent, sexual, and hateful content.' In recent years, there has also been a noted increase in AI content targeted at children.
The Impact of Unfiltered Viewing
Children's physical and emotional safety may be at risk, but their development can also be impacted by constant streaming. 'The real issue is not whether children are watching something 'safe' in the legal or moral sense—it's whether what they're consuming is shaping their expectations, their self-image, and their ability to tolerate the real world,' says Dr. Wetter. 'When children have unfiltered, unrestricted access to this type of content, they begin to rely on it not just for entertainment, but for emotional regulation.' This could show up as tantrums or conflicts around screen time, trouble focusing in school, or the inability to speak person-to-person without devices, he says.
Because devices are always within reach, kids' screen time habits are affecting their sleep and mood, which may impact their schoolwork and day-to-day behavior. 'Children are losing the ability to self-regulate emotionally without external stimulation. They're staying up late watching autoplay videos, checking notifications the moment they wake up, and struggling to manage the sensory overload that comes from hours of screen exposure,' says Dr. Wetter. He also notes that kids today don't experience boredom like prior generations. 'Their ability to experience boredom—which is actually an important developmental skill—diminishes,' he says. 'In real-time, clinicians, educators, and parents are witnessing the downstream effects of what we might call poor digital hygiene.' A recent study from the Journal of the American Heart Association even found that kids and teens who spend more time on screens may be at higher risk for heart issues in the future.
How to Keep Viewing Safe
It's difficult to go cold turkey and prohibit your kids from these channels and platforms entirely. Dr. Wetter recommends setting clear, consistent, and age-appropriate boundaries around screen time. 'Instead of reacting with punishments or lectures when screen time becomes an issue, parents can establish daily tech-free zones, like mealtimes or the hour before bed, and create screen schedules that balance passive consumption with active play, school, and sleep,' he shares. Offer alternatives to YouTube and Twitch, like sports, music, art, playtime, or family time.
Dr. Kollins suggests 'creating structure' around screen time, including time limits, privacy tools, regular check-ins, or making a family media agreement where parents and kids align on rules and expectations around screen time.
For older kids, Jordan says to start the conversation with 'curiosity, not judgement.' She recommends asking your children what they're watching and why they like it. 'Consider watching together when you can. This helps you learn what your child likes and what the content presents to them,' she explains. 'The most powerful tool is still an ongoing, open conversation.'
In fact, being actively interested and involved in what your kids are watching, no matter their age, is one of the most important things parents can do to keep their kids safe online. 'As parents, one of the best things we can do is help guide that exploration rather than shut it down,' says Dr. Kollins. 'Allowing kids to engage with digital content while they're still at home gives us a chance to support them when things get confusing, complicated, or overwhelming.'
Screen Time Limits Matter for Parents, Too
Parents should also practice what they preach when it comes to screens, phones, and tablets. 'Modeling healthy digital behavior—like putting phones away during conversations, prioritizing face-to-face connection, and valuing rest—also teaches children how to develop a healthier relationship with their devices,' says Dr. Wetter.
Teach kids media literacy skills and tools to help them navigate what's OK to watch and what they should stay away from, as well as how to separate what's real and what is entertainment. 'Explain that influencers are often being paid to promote products, that videos are edited to seem more exciting than they really are, or that many online personas are exaggerated for effect can help children separate entertainment from reality,' says Dr. Wetter.
'Think of it like scaffolding. It's there to prop them up and for safety, but as time goes on and they can stand on their own, it can slowly come away,' Dr. Kollins explains. 'The goal isn't to control every moment; it's to create balance. That way, they get to build the digital skills and resilience they'll need while still knowing we're here to help when they need us.'
Read the original article on Parents
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