The Strange World of Online Content: What are our Kids Really Watching?

Perhaps there is a real need behind this behaviour?

The internet is filled with questionable—and frankly, bizarre—content. We’ve all been there: we click on links that grab our attention in the moment, only to get pulled down a rabbit hole. We go online with one task in mind, but end up with multiple browser tabs open, mindlessly scrolling through endless videos and articles. If we care about our mental health, we should try to keep this to a minimum, but as adults, we often struggle to exercise self-restraint. For our children, it’s even harder.

As kids grow older, they begin to listen less to their parents and more to peers, influencers, and advertisers. With more freedom on their devices, they start spending more time online. Unfortunately, algorithms then feed them more and more of the same content, narrowing their horizons. As parents, we often want to believe that there is some educational value in their online interactions. But when we take a closer look at their screens, the reality can be quite different!

Take, for example, videos like “Me Restocking My Teen’s Mini Fridge,” which shows a mother cleaning out a fridge and filling it with snacks for 49 seconds. Firstly who is doing that (?!) and secondly what is the value of such a clip? Then there are the endless videos of slime and squishies. I understand the appeal of physically playing with these items, but watching someone else do it just doesn’t feel like the real deal. Yet my 10-year-old daughter is fascinated by it. She’s been pulled into an algorithm that keeps feeding her more and more of this content on YouTube Kids. In fact, this is what led me to cut her screen time on YouTube Kids—because she was spending her entire screen time watching influencers who really weren’t influencing her in a positive way. I don’t mind her watching one or two videos of the sort, but not hours of the same monotonous content. Not to mention, the environmental impact of all that plastic, glue, and glitter that ultimately ends up in the trash. What message is this sending to our kids?

I also hadn’t heard of the phenomenon known as Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) until my kids brought it to my attention. In 2023, there were over 4.35 million ASMR videos tagged on YouTube1, and some of them run for hours! These videos are both intriguing and confusing. ASMR content often includes auditory, visual, and tactile stimuli that trigger a response—such as whispering, tapping, scratching, rustling sounds, and even eating noises. The whole thing revolves around creating a sense of manufactured intimacy. But is that really something appropriate for our children? The appeal of ASMR lies in the tingling, pleasurable sensation it evokes, and some posts definitely exploit the sexual undertone. More of such content is now being created by AI, which is tracking what attracts viewers and making more of it.

But perhaps there’s something deeper at play in my initial criticism of all this content. Why are kids and young people really spending hours watching slime and ASMR videos? Maybe they’re searching for something simple and gentle and uncomplicated—something that offers them escapism. Maybe they’re overwhelmed by other online content—social media comparisons, body image pressures, and the constant stream of negative news about politics and the climate. Perhaps the message they’re sending is that they’re trying to block out the noise. Maybe it’s a form of mindfulness for them, helping them offload mentally. In fact, one study suggested that ASMR can serve as a way of “socio-emotional coping2,” helping people disengage mentally and emotionally.

When it comes to ASMR, it might also be about the need for physical contact. The tingling sensation many viewers report feeling from the content is similar to the feeling of physical touch. This could be what they’re craving if they’re alone in their bedrooms, glued to their screens instead of socializing with other people or receiving the warmth of a hug or a pat on the back. Human interaction is essential for mental health, and perhaps this is their way of compensating for the absence of that in their lives.

In a world where digital content is so ubiquitous, it’s easy to feel powerless as a parent. We want to protect our kids from the constant stream of distractions, influences, and negative messaging, but we also know that the online world is here to stay. The key is finding balance. As adults, we too have a mammoth challenge in managing our time on devices, and perhaps we too are looking for distraction from the real world?

Kids need to be able to distinguish between content that’s enriching and content that’s just noise. They need to understand that not everything they see online is as meaningful or valuable as it may appear, and they need the skills to step away from distractions that prevent them from growing and learning. As parents, we can do our part by staying aware of what our kids are doing online. However, this also requires the support of schools, communities, and governments, which must offer appropriate education programs to help guide children in their digital lives.

It's undeniable that the internet offers valuable opportunities for self-expression and connection. For many children, ASMR videos or the allure of slime may serve as a coping mechanism or a brief escape. While moderate viewing may not necessarily be harmful, perhaps we should also consider how we can help kids navigate life's challenges in healthier, offline ways—through meaningful real-world relationships and creative activities that don't rely on screens.

[1] https://smartasset.com/insights/the-economics-of-asmr

[2] https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1140312/full