Why Americans spend hundreds of dollars on YouTube camps for children

A new generation of underage bloggers has appeared on YouTube who are gaining millions of views. This trend led to the creation of summer YouTube-camps: children are sent there to learn how to shoot and edit videos for Twitch, TikTok or YouTube, as well as create a personal brand.

Фото: Depositphotos

While some parents prohibit children from channeling, because videos can collect offensive comments or attract pedophiles, others, on the contrary, believe that YouTube can develop useful planning, composure and public speaking skills in children. Edition The Wall Street Journal talked with parents who send children in the summer to learn how to lead a social network, and the portal TJ prepared a translation of the material into Russian.

What is YouTube Camp

In 2014, several American summer camps began offering courses for filming and editing YouTube videos for children and teenagers. Some also included lessons on creating a personal brand, identifying the target audience and producing content. In addition, children are taught safe behavior in social networks. Prices range from 185 dollars to thousands of dollars per week.

For example, los angeles camp Star camps offers child "to become an Internet sensation." Two weeks of the program will cost parents 750 dollars.

On the subject: 10 YouTube channels that will help you learn English

“We give kids the tools to find their own style. Because a unique image will increase the child’s chances of becoming a successful blogger,” says the camp’s website.

Children are offered to shoot vlogs, play video games, make feil videos, product reviews or short music videos for TikTok.

Camp offer Socialstar

The age threshold for all camps is different: some can only be reached from 14 years, while others offer programs for seven-year-olds. In this case, you can register on YouTube only with 13 years. If site moderators find out that the user is younger, then delete the account.

The creators of YouTube-camps declare that they do not allow children to start their own channels on the platform if this is contrary to the rules of the site. According to them, parents decide whether to create a channel and publish child’s videos there.

Who organizes camps

YouTube camps often operate on the basis of summer camps offering general educational programs: courses acting or directing craftsmanship game design, leadership skills. At the same time in recent years, appeared all more camps that specialize only in the development of accounts in social networks.

Фото: Depositphotos

Creator of educational programs on programming and robotics Level Up Jeff Hughes said that he decided to add a course on YouTube five years ago after his 11-year-old son had problems with YouTube. His program has become one of the first YouTube-camps.

The rollers of Hughes' son scored few views, and classmates left negative comments under them. Due to the stress that the child experienced, Hughes decided that the teachers in his camps should work with the expectations of the children.

"We emphasize that making videos is a hobby. Children should have fun making videos. If they want to become bloggers for the sake of popularity and the opportunity to get rich, it can be stressful for the whole family,” He explained Hughes.

On the subject: How kids develop addiction to YouTube

According to journalists, none of the camps is not associated with YouTube or Google.

Why do parents send children to "sit" on social networks in the summer

Most parents who send children to such camps do not believe that their children can become popular, and consider this to be just the teenage phase.

Investment company director Nicole Champine sent her 12-year-old son to the camp for a thousand dollars a week. The child wanted to record videos on Fortnite.

As her son is studying for the top five and attending school groups, Champine decided that she should not worry about her child being involved in a channel on YouTube.

“This is not the goal of his whole life. He wants to be a surgeon. I can come to terms with the fact that he films let’s plays in his free time,” the woman noted.

“Wanting to start a YouTube channel and become as successful as their idols is a common thing for children. Here you need to do the same as with children’s desires to get into the NBA or win an Oscar. They need to understand that very few people are able to achieve this,” said Sierra Filucci, Director of the NGO Common Sense Media, advocating the safe use of technology by children.

On the subject: 8 children's YouTube channels for learning English

When his 10-year-old son told his mother, Vancouver accountant Nikki Alora, that he wanted to “be a YouTuber,” she thought, “Oh, no.” Alore agreed to help the child only on one condition: if nothing works out for him, then he will not sit at home until he is 35 years old. The son replied: “Don’t worry, I’ll find a real job.”

Child Alore wanted to make a video after watching Minecraft videos. His mother enrolled him in a summer camp for $300 a week: “He found a passion. Usually he’s not interested in anything, I didn’t want to take away this activity either.”

Marketing company founder John Pacini supported his son when he wanted to create a YouTube channel at age 12: “We sent him to a course related to video production. They weren't called YouTube camps before. I held the microphone, adjusted the lights. It was family time."

Now Pacini's son is 17 years old. He never sought YouTube fame, but used his video production skills to make short films. The guy has already received several international student film awards. Pancini noted: “Parents should be involved in the learning process, but often do not even educate themselves. I honestly think that the parents themselves should be sent to YouTube camp.”

Read also on ForumDaily:

Xnumx best places to stay with kids in san francisco

Rules for children in the school bus and car

What Silicon Valley principles apply in US schools

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.