Parents How do you feel about youtube?

[wallflower]

I'm curious what other parents think about youtube and especially those parents who have made channels for their children and put them out there as the next big thing? I'm not talking about youtube channels where you just share with family and friends. I know many people who have those and even if they aren't set to private they are not set up in a way that allows the videos to be easily found. I'm talking about those that have titles likes "4 year old level 10!" Thoughts?

 

[cbifoja]

A 4YO L10??? Dang it! My child is behind! She'll never get to the 2016 Olympics now.

 

[wallflower]

Hopefully you know I'm kidding about that title. Just giving a comical example of how the video always has to highlight the how young they are to be doing that skill/level to attract attention.

 

[cbifoja]

Yeah, you never seem to see 17YO L2 in her first meet videos........

 

[cbifoja]

In all seriousness though....I wonder if it is because that's the way we kind of talk about our gymmies to other parents. One of the first questions rec moms always ask me is what level my kid is and how old she is. Then it's usually how long has she been taking gymnastics. Even here on CB, everyone identifies their kids by age/level.

 

[GymGirl's Mom]

Hate YouTube when used to promote your child to the public. A 7 year old shouldn't have a gymnastics page promoting herself and her skills to the public! That said, I like You Tube and Dd has videos on there for family and friends to see in addition to school plays, recitals, etc. I do not use it as a site to get her name "out there". In fact, her name, our last name, gym, the meet, our town, state, etc are not mentioned. I feel bad for kids not of consenting age who have their parents promoting them with websites, YouTube pages, etc. To me it's just creepy and invites all kinds of people into your lives in a way that could be potentially dangerous.

 

[gymmomtotwo]

My picture was in the paper at age 7 at a swimming meet. The next day, my mom called the school in a panic when she received threatening phone calls about my whereabouts. This was back in the 1970s. I still remember sitting in class and the office coming over the loudspeaker asking if I was there. I think it's a huge mistake to do this for safety reasons alone, not to mentioning the self promotion and bragging that goes on. You can easily identify where these children are from. Some even put last names out there! I admit to liking some of them because I can see what a level 6 floor routine looks like or whatever, and I can see how it would be nice for family members to see what little Suzy is doing. But titles like Amazing 4 Year Old Gymnast or whatever is just exploitative in my mind. But frankly, I just wouldn't put my kid out there at all. I'd be embarrassed if anyone else from my gym saw it out there.

 

[wallflower]

One of my thoughts is that it creates perhaps a pressure that young kids don't need. To know that thousands of strangers are following your progress and judging you at that young of an age can't be a good thing. I would think the parents would feel pressure as well for their YouTube "star" to perform well so they can show that off. I just don't like the idea of that and that is exactly why I would never do that.

 

[momof5]

I agree that it puts a lot of pressure on kids. If you look at some of these on youtube people already start speculating if they will make the Olympic team.

 

[MaryA]

Like others, I use youtube, on a private setting, to share with friends and family, but I do certainly enjoy seeing what other people up up there. I use it to see what the next level (or the next level after that) looks like. It is interesting when there are lots of videos of the same kid over a long period of time. Super Amazing 7-Year Old Suzie Competes Level 6! Super Amazing 8-Year Old Suzie Competes Level 7! I always wonder what happened when the videos stop. Did Super Amazing Suzie quit? Did Super Amazing Suzie have a bad year where she didn't look so Super Amazing? Did Super Amazing Suzie's parents just get tired of making all of those videos? It's a bit voyeuristic, but fun. Of course, it's the real voyeurs that you really need to worry about...

 

[GymGirl's Mom]

Mary A I am guilty of following Super Amazing Susie too and seem to notice the Super Amazing Susie's of the gymnastics world tend to stop posting videos but leave the page up anyway. Interesting. A few specific Susies come to mind instantly. I do love YouTube for seeing videos of routines, skills, etc, but feel for Susie when her meteoric rise doesn't continue.

 

[Quadqueen]

Sometimes, Susie's parents post her latest videos on CB for all to enjoy

 

[Granny Smith]

If your child is planning to do gymnastics in college, then YouTube is basically necessary. My dd has a YouTube page that is public, but every video that I have out in the public (not all of them are) I make sure that I make it so that comments can only be left with my approval. I am proud to say that I have never advertised her age on her videos, but now do label them with her name and Class of 2014.

 

[MaryA]

If your child is planning to do gymnastics in college, then YouTube is basically necessary. My dd has a YouTube page that is public, but every video that I have out in the public (not all of them are) I make sure that I make it so that comments can only be left with my approval. I am proud to say that I have never advertised her age on her videos, but now do label them with her name and Class of 2014.

College recruitment is a different kettle of fish... Not the same at all as Fantastic Amazing Susie!

 

[Granny Smith]

Ha ha, I get it. Honestly with the "My Amazing 7 yr old, level 8" videos, I don't watch them - I barely have time to get done the crap I need to get done, let alone watch some video of the next "great" one!

 

[gymmomtoo]

My daughter has two youtube pages--one that we put video on for colleges and one I put the vast majority of her meets on for friends and family to see. IMHO, the vast majority of those who put "7 year old Level 8!" are bragging and looking for comments like "wow! your daughter is so amazing!" Maybe their fellow gym moms and dads nearby got tired of listening to them brag and run when they see them coming, so the internet is their only hope now ;-)

 

[Faith]

I'd never post video's of my own child. Those who want to see meet videos etc can have the link to my Dropbox, or I'll burn a cd. It's too easy to identify country/meet/club/child.

having said that I do find it useful to see what levels and meets look like, especially here in the uk where it seems like a state secret! And to see the difference between "elite path" kids.

mostly though I like the amazing suzie videos . I also like to track them to see whether they do turn out to be amazing. As I said easy enough to work out names and then check mymeetscores or wherever. I actually saw a real life one compete recently, she wasn't as amazing in real life at 8 as her parents thought she was on YouTube at 5.

 

[J&A's mom]

I have posted on facebook to family and friends. What about Gymnastike? I know some of our level 8-10s have meets up there. Do they give Gymnastike permission to do this? just curious. The guys are old enough, and would be good for college recruitment purposes. But the girls that are on there are middle school age, and I don't think they are looking elite, but college may be in their future.

 

[mommyof1]

Ha ha, I get it. Honestly with the "My Amazing 7 yr old, level 8" videos, I don't watch them - I barely have time to get done the crap I need to get done, let alone watch some video of the next "great" one!

Yes! I do not even have the time or patience to post videos or photos of my own little Susie doing gymnastics or anything else to Facebook/Youtube/etc., whether publicly or privately. I can barely get them downloaded from the camera onto the computer before the memory card fills up.

I also don't think my family really has the time or inclination to view all of Susie's amazing exploits on line. We usually just wait until the grandparents come for a visit and then unleash Susie on them with an iPod full of videos.

 

[GymGirl's Mom]

College recruitment is a different kettle of fish... Not the same at all as Fantastic Amazing Susie!

Yes, it's Super 7 year old Susie I am referring to. A 16 year old looking to try to compete in college is a way different thing. She is able to consent to having herself promoted on YouTube- a 4...7,8,9,10..12 year old IMO is not.