The UK government has urged video platforms like YouTube to give greater prominence to "high-quality" children's content, emphasizing its importance for educational and

emotional development.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy expressed concern that children are less likely to encounter enriching programming as they increasingly consume media through online platforms instead of traditional television. She has written to YouTube, other video platforms, and media regulator Ofcom, urging them to make suitable children's content more visible.

A YouTube spokesperson responded, stating that the platform provides "safe, age-appropriate online experiences that allow kids and teens to learn, grow, and explore."

However, Nandy, a mother of a nine-year-old, criticized online platforms for not adequately promoting diverse, high-quality material. "This is something that affects my family, like every family across the country," she said in an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

The episode was guest-edited by Baroness Floella Benjamin, an actor and Liberal Democrat peer known for her decades-long career in children's television. Nandy praised UK-produced children's TV for helping young audiences understand the world but lamented that it often goes unseen because popular online platforms fail to promote it effectively.

Nandy highlighted the government’s commitment to supporting the UK’s children’s TV industry, describing it as one of the nation’s "crown jewels." However, she noted that a previous government funding initiative led to the creation of more quality content, but children weren’t watching it because it was difficult to find.

The Culture Secretary emphasized the government’s preference for a voluntary agreement with online platforms to address the issue but hinted at potential regulatory action if such an agreement cannot be reached. "We’d much prefer for these platforms to work with us to ensure children can easily find and watch high-quality content," Nandy said.

She acknowledged the advantages of platforms like YouTube, describing them as "democratizing" spaces where creators can launch careers from their bedrooms. Still, she stressed the need for balance, calling on Ofcom to prioritize children's programming in its upcoming public service broadcasting review, set to be published in the summer.

Baroness Benjamin added her voice to the debate, warning of a "crisis" in the children’s entertainment industry as young audiences increasingly shift to online platforms. She noted that "television influences children’s thinking and behavior" but said its "quality and quantity" are in decline.

Using her platform as a guest editor, Benjamin called for greater focus on providing children with suitable, accessible entertainment, emphasizing the need for action to address the challenges faced by the industry. Photo by Hragaby, Wikimedia commons.