In our previous blog, YouTube Overview for Parents, we gave you an overview of popular YouTube genres and the top names behind them. In this blog, we are highlighting 9 YouTubers Parents Need to Know About, to make you familiar with the most popular channels tweens and teens are talking about.
Tweens and teens seem especially drawn to videos in the gaming, comedy and vlogging genres. You’ll notice all the YouTubers listed here fall under those genres. You will also notice that many of these mature YouTube channels have profile pictures that are enticing or misleading to children. Misleading profile pictures like these, are just one of the reasons YouTube has come under fire for child safety.
This list should serve as a starting point as you begin to navigate the massive world of YouTube for or with your child. While all the YouTubers featured here are listed as appropriate for individuals 18 years and older, only you can decide what your child is ready for. Arming yourself with this knowledge will allow you to guide your child’s online journey.
9 YouTubers Parents Need to Know About
1. Markiplier
- What You Need to Know: Mark Edward Fischbach known online as Markiplier is a YouTube gamer. He specializes in “Let’s Play” videos – a live commentary of his online gameplay – commonly in survival horror video games. His videos contain uncensored profanity and the games he features are intended for mature players.
- Number of Subscribers: 24.9 million
- Genre: Gaming
- Recommended Age: 18 +
- What You Need to Know: Jenna’s satirical how-to videos, including “How To Avoid Talking to People You Don’t Want To Talk To” as well as off the wall tutorials like her “Drunk Makeup Tutorial” and humorous vlog style videos, have gained her a huge teenage and young adult following. Her topics are often mature and her language is uncensored.
- Number of Subscribers: 20.1 million
- Genre: Comedy
- Recommended Age: 18+
3. KSI
- What You Need to Know: KSI, whose name stands for knowledge, strength, and integrity is an English YouTuber who started as a gamer but has ventured into challenge videos, comedy and most recently, a music career. His videos contain profane and sexual language and material.
- Number of Subscribers: 21 million
- Genre: Vlog
- Recommended Age: 18+
- What You Need to Know: The three puppets featured in Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared’s videos resemble popular children’s show characters. While each video begins like a typical show they each contain a disturbing, often gory, plot twist.
- Number of Subscribers: 2.12 million
- Genre: Comedy
- Recommended Age: 18+
- What You Need to Know: With Mario (of Nintendo fame) as the profile picture this channel is misleading. The videos feature plush puppets in various skits. The language and content are mature and uncensored.
- Number of Subscribers: 8.29 million
- Genre: Comedy
- Recommended Age: 18+
6. Deji
- What You Need to Know: Deji is a YouTuber based out of the UK. He began as a gamer but his channel now includes vlogs, skits, challenges, and pranks. The content is lude and uncensored.
- Number of Subscribers: 9.95 million
- Genre: Vlog
- Recommended Age: 18+
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7. PewDiePie
- What You Need to Know: One of the most famous YouTubers to date, your kids are likely to hear about PewDiePie and his popular YouTube channel. Be warned as most of his videos contain swearing, bizarre content, and occasionally racist views.
- Number of Subscribers: 103 million
- Genre: Gaming
- Recommended Age: 18+
8. FilmCow
- What You Need to Know: The cartoon characters featured on this YouTube channel are likely to catch your child’s eye. The videos starring Charlie the Unicorn may even turn up in a well-intentioned search. However, these fun songs turn dark and violent, contain swearing, and glorify bad decisions.
- Number of Subscribers: 1.73 million
- Genre: Comedy
- Recommended Age: 18+
9. Shane
- What You Need to Know: Shane Dawson is an American YouTuber who began as a comedian and gained popularity for his controversial parodies. He has since moved primarily into vlogging. These videos contain mature content and language.
- Number of Subscribers: 23.2 million
- Genre: Vlog
- Recommended Age: 18+
Jessica Korzyniewski contributed to this article.
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