Resisting hyperreality?: talking to young children about YouTube and YouTube Kids

O'Connor, Jane and Fotakopoulou, Olga and Ludgate, Shannon and Kewlramani, Sarika and Johnston, Kelly (2023) Resisting hyperreality?: talking to young children about YouTube and YouTube Kids. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood. ISSN 1463-9491

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Abstract

This article reports on a study investigating how 13 young children in English speaking countries (England, Scotland, Australia, USA) watch and engage with digital content on YouTube and YouTube Kids (YT/YTK). Given the increasing amounts of time children spend viewing these platforms, and related concerns around the commercial algorithms which direct their viewing choices, the research aims were to understand how young children make choices about what to watch and to explore the extent of their comprehension of the constructed, ‘unreal’ nature that characterises a large proportion of these videos, particularly those presented by children (micro-celebrities). Using child centred methodologies the research was carried out by parent-researchers and the findings were analysed and interpreted using elements of Baudrillard’s (1994) theory of hyperreality. The study found that the children selected videos for a variety of reasons including those related to their ‘real-life’ interests, and were largely able to discern between the real and hyperreal in videos by drawing on existing frames of reference and applying their developing knowledge and understanding of the world. The paper provides insights into young children's experiences, understandings and preferences around using YT/YTK and extends Baudrillard's perspectives on the hyperreal from postmodernism into a post-digital conceptual realm.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number:	10.1177/14639491231166487
Dates:	Date Event 27 February 2023 Accepted 20 April 2023 Published Online
Uncontrolled Keywords:	YouTube Kids, Digital media, Baudrillard, Micro-celebrity, hyperreality
Subjects:	CAH04 - psychology > CAH04-01 - psychology > CAH04-01-01 - psychology (non-specific) CAH15 - social sciences > CAH15-04 - health and social care > CAH15-04-02 - childhood and youth studies
Divisions:	Law and Social Sciences > Education Life and Health Sciences > Psychology Law and Social Sciences > Criminology and Sociology > Criminology Law and Social Sciences > Criminology and Sociology > Sociology
Depositing User:	Gemma Tonks
Date Deposited:	27 Feb 2023 14:08
Last Modified:	04 Aug 2025 12:59
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/14209

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